Bret Michaels exits Freedom 250 event citing safety threats to band and family

WASHINGTON, DC: Bret Michaels has become the latest performer to step away from the upcoming Freedom 250 event in Washington, DC, but unlike several others who previously withdrew, the rocker cited safety concerns and alleged threats directed at people close to him as the reason behind his decision.

The Poison frontman shared a lengthy statement addressing fans and explaining why he would no longer appear at "The Great American State Fair" on the National Mall.

Bret Michaels says Freedom 250 event became ‘much more divisive’ than what he agreed to be part of

In his statement, Michaels explained that he initially agreed to participate because of his personal connection to military families and patriotic causes.

“Hello to all my awesome friends & fans, I wanted to jump on here real quick and talk about the upcoming Freedom 250 event in Washington, DC,” he wrote.

“When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life,” Michaels continued. “As the son of a veteran, and coming from a family that has proudly served, that is something I have always been honored to support.”

The musician also emphasized that his concerts have always focused on entertainment and positivity rather than political messaging.

“As many of you know, I've spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity and good vibes,” Michaels wrote. “My shows have never been about politics. They're about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life's stresses for a few hours.”

The Poison frontman then revealed that he no longer felt comfortable participating because the event had changed from what was originally described to him.

“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,” Michaels said.

Bret Michaels cites safety concerns and ‘unforgivable’ threats

The most serious portion of Michaels’ statement centered around safety concerns tied to the event.

Unlike other artists who withdrew because of political concerns, Michaels specifically mentioned threats directed toward those around him.

“Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family, and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable,” he wrote. “Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.”

The carefully worded statement acknowledged that threats had become part of the situation while stopping short of validating or detailing them publicly.

That added a much heavier tone to the growing controversy surrounding the event, which has already seen multiple artists distance themselves from the lineup within less than 24 hours of the initial announcement.

Michaels’ decision also drew attention because of his documented history with President Donald Trump. The rocker famously won Season 3 of 'Celebrity Apprentice', which Trump hosted before entering politics.

Multiple artists from Freedom 250 lineup have already withdrawn

Several other performers previously announced for "The Great American State Fair" have also backed away from the event in recent days.

Morris Day confirmed on Instagram that Morris Day and The Time would no longer perform, writing simply, “It’s A No For Me.”

Young MC also announced his withdrawal, claiming artists were never informed about political connections surrounding the event.

“The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” Young MC wrote on Facebook. “And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed.” 

Martina McBride later shared her own statement saying she believed the event had been presented as nonpartisan but later felt that description was “misleading.”

Meanwhile, Jodie Rocco of Milli Vanilli told the Associated Press that members of the group were surprised to even see their name included in the lineup.

“Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party,” the Commodores said while confirming they would not participate.

Freedom 250 defends event as artist exits continue to grow

Freedom 250 has continued defending the event and insists it remains nonpartisan.

“Freedom 250 is focused on our signature celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America,” spokesperson Rachel Reisner said.

C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, and Flo Rida are currently still listed among performers expected to appear during the 16-day fair.

The White House has not publicly commented on the growing number of artist withdrawals.

A source familiar with the event has also maintained that Freedom 250 is not an official White House event.