Bernie Sanders’ Instagram account announced this week that Public Enemy would be performing at Sanders’ rally in Los Angeles on March 1. Since then, Flavor Flav has denied any endorsement of Sanders. This is after fellow Public Enemy group mate, Chuck D, voiced his support for the 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate hopeful.
Flavor Flav sent a cease and desist letter which said how Sanders is using his “likeness, image and trademarked clock in promotional materials.” Flav also hasn’t endorsed any specific candidate for president. Chuck ended up performing tonight at the rally inside the LA Convention Center which also featured Public Enemy Radio which consists of Chuck, DJ Lord, Jahi and the S1Ws.
Now, the relationship has gotten so bad with Flav to the point where he is long longer part of Public Enemy, according to Rolling Stone.
“Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav,” said the legendary group in a statement on Sunday night. “We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.”
Flavor Flav’s lawyer, Matthew Friedman, added that Chuck can express his political views however but does not speak for every member of Public Enemy. He even said that the performance won’t be by Public Enemy as they aren’t the group without Flav. Chuck’s lawyer has since said that he is in fact allowed to perform under the Public Enemy name. This is due to Chuck drawing the group’s logo in the mid-80’s being the “creative visionary and the group’s primary songwriter” who wrote Flav’s “most memorable lines.”
This beef within the group has been brewing for years as back in 2017, Flav sued Chuck and his business management firm over unpaid funds. The show ill go on though as Public Enemy radio plans to release a new album in April. In total, Public Enemy as a group has released 14 studio albums with the most recent one being ‘Nothing Is Quick in the Desert’ June 2017. Their first album together was way back in 1987 with ‘Yo! Bum Rush The Show.’
“Fight the Power!”
Chuck D performs his anthem at @BernieSanders’ MASSIVE pre-Super Tuesday rally in downtown Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/jsnX1ZlDHy
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) March 2, 2020
Chuck D compares Pres. Trump to Hitler during introduction to “Fight the Power” at @BernieSanders’ Los Angeles rally. pic.twitter.com/QLHdl9z5Ez
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) March 2, 2020
