Public Enemy part ways with Flavor Flav after Bernie Sanders rally row
Written by News on 03/03/2020
Public Enemy have parted ways with founder member Flavor Flav after 35 years following a row about an appearance at a Bernie Sanders rally.
A statement sent to Sky News from the band’s management said the hip-hop group would be “moving forward” without the rapper.
“We thank him for his years of service and wish him well,” it said.
Chuck D, who formed the group with Flavor Flav in 1985, has also posted about the fallout on social media.
It comes after Flavor Flav sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Sanders campaign ahead of the rally on Sunday, at which Chuck D performed as Public Enemy Radio.
Following the announcement of the show, lawyers for Flavor Flav said he had not endorsed a political candidate.
Chuck D has posted several messages on Twitter, saying the “last straw was long ago” and saying the decision was about money rather than politics, saying his former bandmate was unprepared to play for free.
“My last straw was long ago,” he wrote on Twitter. “It’s not about Bernie with Flav… he don’t know the difference between [American football player] Barry Sanders or Bernie Sanders… So I don’t attack Flav on what he don’t know.
“If there was a $bag, Flav would’ve been there front & center. He will not do free benefit shows.”
He also called Flavor Flav “ungrateful” for previously refusing to play a fundraiser for Harry Belafonte’s human rights charity Sankofa in 2016, saying Belafonte had inducted Public Enemy to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.
Famous for tracks including Bring The Noize and Fight The Power, Public Enemy were famous for their politically charged lyrics.
The split comes after the group received the lifetime achievement award at this year’s Grammys in February.
However, tensions have been rising for a while, with Flavor Flav suing his bandmates and the group’s managers over unpaid profits in 2017.
(c) Sky News 2020: Public Enemy part ways with Flavor Flav after Bernie Sanders rally row
