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Public Enemy Splits With Flavor Flav After Sanders Rally Dispute Public Enemy Splits With Flavor Flav After Sanders Rally Dispute
(1 day later)
The rap group Public Enemy said it was “moving forward” without Flavor Flav after he raised objections that Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign had made it appear as if the group was backing his candidacy. The rap group Public Enemy said it was “moving forward” without Flavor Flav after he raised objections that Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign had made it appear that the group was backing his candidacy.
A lawyer representing Flavor Flav, the flamboyant, clock-wearing rapper who had his own reality series on VH1 and whose real name is William Drayton, sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Sanders campaign on Friday. The letter objected to what the lawyer said was the unauthorized use of Flavor Flav’s likeness and trademarked clock image to promote a rally on Sunday with Public Enemy in Los Angeles.A lawyer representing Flavor Flav, the flamboyant, clock-wearing rapper who had his own reality series on VH1 and whose real name is William Drayton, sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Sanders campaign on Friday. The letter objected to what the lawyer said was the unauthorized use of Flavor Flav’s likeness and trademarked clock image to promote a rally on Sunday with Public Enemy in Los Angeles.
The lawyer, Matthew H. Friedman, said in the letter, which was obtained by The New York Times, that Mr. Sanders had been endorsed by Chuck D of Public Enemy, but not by the group itself and not by Flavor Flav. The lawyer, Matthew H. Friedman, said in the letter, which was obtained by The New York Times, that Mr. Sanders, a Vermont senator, had been endorsed by Chuck D of Public Enemy, but not by the group itself or by Flavor Flav.
“The Public Enemy Movement cannot allow its cultural identity, likeness and life’s work to be misappropriated by political operatives in support of a fictional revolution — Don’t Believe The Hype!” Mr. Friedman wrote. “It is unfortunate that a political campaign would be so careless with the artistic integrity of such iconoclastic figures in American culture.”“The Public Enemy Movement cannot allow its cultural identity, likeness and life’s work to be misappropriated by political operatives in support of a fictional revolution — Don’t Believe The Hype!” Mr. Friedman wrote. “It is unfortunate that a political campaign would be so careless with the artistic integrity of such iconoclastic figures in American culture.”
The Sanders campaign declined to comment on Monday. A spokeswoman for Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio issued a statement that said: “Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav. We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.”The Sanders campaign declined to comment on Monday. A spokeswoman for Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio issued a statement that said: “Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav. We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.”
Flavor Flav and Chuck D formed Public Enemy in 1982. Public Enemy Radio is an offshoot of the original group led by Chuck D. Flavor Flav responded on Twitter, saying he was “disappointed” in Chuck D. “Are you kidding me right now?” he wrote. “Over Bernie Sanders?? You wanna destroy something we’ve built over 35 years OVER POLITICS??”
On Sunday, Chuck D, whose real name is Carlton Ridenhour, addressed the episode by saying on Twitter, “it’s not about Bernie with Flav … he don’t know the difference between Barry Sanders or Bernie Sanders.” “I’m your partner,” he said. “You can’t fire me.”
He added, “there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav.”
In a follow-up statement on Monday, Public Enemy said that it did not split with Flavor Flav over his political views. It said the rapper had been suspended from the group since 2016, after he did not appear for a benefit with Harry Belafonte, the singer and activist, in Atlanta.
“That was the last straw for the group,” the statement said. “He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work.”
The statement concluded, “It’s time to move on and everyone wishes Flavor well.”
Flavor Flav and Chuck D formed Public Enemy in 1982; Public Enemy Radio is an offshoot of the original group led by Chuck D. That group toured in Europe with the Wu-Tang Clan in May 2019 without Flavor Flav, and said it has also done benefit shows without him.
On Sunday, Chuck D, whose real name is Carlton Ridenhour, addressed the episode by saying on Twitter, “it’s not about Bernie with Flav … he don’t know the difference between Barry Sanders or Bernie Sanders.” (During the 2016 general election, Flavor Flav said, “I would never want to take sides in this thing” to avoid alienating any fans. In 2018, he called President Trump the “most destructive president in United States history.”)
In a separate post early Monday morning, Chuck D said that he had appeared at the Sanders rally on Sunday night. He added that if a “$bag,” or payment, had been involved, “Flav would’ve been there front & center.” His former partner, he added, “will NOT do free benefit shows.”In a separate post early Monday morning, Chuck D said that he had appeared at the Sanders rally on Sunday night. He added that if a “$bag,” or payment, had been involved, “Flav would’ve been there front & center.” His former partner, he added, “will NOT do free benefit shows.”
The rally drew thousands to the Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday and featured Chuck D and his crew performing a set of Public Enemy material that included “Bring the Noise,” “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” and “Fight the Power,” according to The Los Angeles Times. Also appearing at the event held ahead of Super Tuesday were the comedian Sarah Silverman and the actor Dick Van Dyke.The rally drew thousands to the Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday and featured Chuck D and his crew performing a set of Public Enemy material that included “Bring the Noise,” “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” and “Fight the Power,” according to The Los Angeles Times. Also appearing at the event held ahead of Super Tuesday were the comedian Sarah Silverman and the actor Dick Van Dyke.
On Twitter, Chuck D said that he had built the group Public Enemy Radio to perform Public Enemy’s material at “benefits & fundraisers.” Flavor Flav’s “refusal to do” Many Rivers to Cross, a music and arts festival organized by Harry Belafonte, in 2016 “was my last time,” he said. “I built Enemy Radio to get far away from that ridiculousness.” On Twitter, Chuck D said that he had built the group Public Enemy Radio to perform Public Enemy’s material at “benefits & fundraisers.” Flavor Flav’s “refusal to do” Many Rivers to Cross, a music and arts festival organized by Mr. Belafonte “was my last time,” he said. “I built Enemy Radio to get far away from that ridiculousness.”
Chuck D also said that Flavor Flav had sued him on Friday. It was not clear whether Chuck D was referring to the cease-and-desist letter, or whether a lawsuit had been filed. Chuck D also said that Flavor Flav had sued him on Friday. It was not clear whether Chuck D was referring to the cease-and-desist letter, or whether a lawsuit had been filed. On Twitter, Flavor Flav said he had not filed any suit, and that he had only asked the Sanders campaign “to correct misleading marketing.”
This is not the first legal feud between the two artists. In 2017, Flavor Flav sued Chuck D, alleging that he had not been paid all the royalties he was owed. Flavor Flav also accused Chuck D of using Flavor Flav’s voice on an album that was released that year and included his image on its cover, both without authorization.This is not the first legal feud between the two artists. In 2017, Flavor Flav sued Chuck D, alleging that he had not been paid all the royalties he was owed. Flavor Flav also accused Chuck D of using Flavor Flav’s voice on an album that was released that year and included his image on its cover, both without authorization.