Morris Day & The Time Were Listed for Trump’s Freedom 250 Festival. They Say No.

Morris Day and The Time did not agree to play Freedom 250. They would like you to know that.

Earlier this week, the lineup was announced for the Great American State Fair, a 16-day event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., tied to the Freedom 250 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Day and The Time were listed as headliners for a June 27 show.

Day, 68, responded on Instagram almost immediately. The post featured text on a blue and purple background: “Contrary To Rumor, Morris Day & The Time Will Not Be Performing At The ‘Great American State Fair.’” His caption: “It’s A No For Me,” followed by the sunglasses smile emoji.

He didn’t elaborate further, but the vehemence of the denial — and its speed — made the message clear enough. This was not a scheduling conflict. This was a choice.

Fans had already been expressing discomfort about his listed participation before Day posted. The festival’s political associations have made it a flashpoint for artists who’d rather not be adjacent to the current administration’s celebration programming, and Day’s public pullout — framed as correcting a “rumor” even while organizers had advertised him — put the dispute squarely in the open.

The remaining Great American State Fair lineup, per Stereogum, includes Milli Vanilli and C+C Music Factory, among others. The event runs through July 4.