Vanilla Ice isn't backing down from his decision to perform as part of the upcoming Freedom 250 concert series, even as many artists have distanced themselves from the Donald Trump-linked events.
Speaking with TMZ Live, the rapper made it clear that he views the performance as a celebration rather than a political statement.
"Oh, man. I'm not going to get dragged into that," Ice told TMZ’s Harvey Levin when asked about criticism surrounding the event. "I'm here to party with America, man. Music is made to bring people together, and that's what we're here to do."
The "Ice Ice Baby" star argued that entertainment should unite people rather than divide them, and repeatedly encouraged fans not to take the controversy too seriously.
"We're just going to represent the '90s," he said. "I don't take anything too serious. I don't think anybody else should. I think that we should just dance. You know, it's life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Ice said his approach to performing has always been centered around the audience rather than politics or ideology.
"I don't think that it should be about any political thing or anything like that," he said. "I don't even vote so I don't even care."
To emphasize his point, the rapper said he would perform for people across the political spectrum if they invited him.
"If Biden called up and said, 'My daughter's getting married. We need Vanilla Ice,' I'd go play," he said. "You play for your fans. We don't get a chance to pick our fans. They pick us."
Ice went even further, saying his willingness to perform for political leaders extends beyond America.
"And I'll go play for Putin and I'll play in Iran if you want. It don't matter," he said. "There's fans everywhere. Music is not political, man. It's universal. Just brings people together."
The comments arrive as Freedom 250 has faced a growing number of cancellations. Multiple artists, including Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, Young MC, Morris Day, and The Commodores, have withdrawn from the event after expressing concerns about its political ties. Many of them said that event organizers misrepresented the nature of the shows.
Vanilla Ice, however, says he isn't interested in treating the event as anything more than an opportunity to entertain.
"This is a celebration of America. 250, the birthday of our country that we were born in," he said. "Come on. Enjoy the dancing."
The rapper also addressed fellow entertainers who have chosen not to participate, noting that he’s on tour with some of them right now.
"Everybody makes their own decision on what they feel like," he said. "But I don't think that anybody should take this serious, including them. I think everybody should just go dance."
