The mystery of Milli Vanilli’s inclusion on Trump’s Great American State Fair lineup has been solved: Fab Morvan, one of the two faces of the pop group who was not actually responsible for singing any of their hits, says he will be performing at the Freedom 250 event on the National Mall on June 26th.
“I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,” Morvan says in a statement sent to Consequence. “Let’s celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of the Great American State Fair as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists. Looking forward to reconnecting with you across the USA this summer and to finally sing Milli Vanilli songs live in person!”
Earlier today, a press release attributed to the vocalists who actually sang Milli Vanilli’s hits — Jodie Rocco, Linda Rocco, Brad Howell, John Davis, and Charles Shaw, collectively billing themselves as The Real Milli Vanilli — announced that they would not be performing at The Great American State Fair.
“Others using the name ‘Milli Vanilli’ that appear on the advertisement should be considered a tribute band with no association vocally or musically to our sound or songs,” their statement added.
While Morvan and fellow frontmen Rob Pilatus remain globally synonymous as the faces of the group, sisters Jodie and Linda, Howell, David, and Shaw were the real voices behind the group’s multi-platinum records. This reality was hidden from the world until a massive lip-syncing scandal unmasked Pilatus and Morvan as fraudulent visual stand-ins. Pilatus later died of an overdose in 1998.
Morvan recently revealed his his hope to tour the US after rehabilitating his image in Europe in recent years, and played an “I Love the 90’s” concert alongside Vanilla Ice, Young MC, and others earlier in Irvine, CA, earlier this year.
As of now, Morvan is only the second act who has officially confirmed his attendance at the Great American State Fair, joining Vanilla Ice. Several others — including Morris Day + Time, Young MC, The Commodores, and Martina McBride, say they’ll no longer be participating despite being announced on the initial lineup.
