Flavor Flav Responds To Chuck D “Firing” Him From Public Enemy After Cease-And-Desist Letter Sent To Bernie Sanders
Flavor Flav, the legendary hype man of the socially forward rap group Public Enemy, has been “let go,” according to a statement issued on Sunday by the group — but Flav says he can’t be fired since he’s a partner.
The abrupt dismissal comes just two days after the rapper sent a cease-and-desist letter to Democratic Candidate Bernie Sanders over Chuck D’s concert at the campaign’s Los Angeles rally Sunday — insinuating that Public Enemy were going to perform.
According to Chuck D, actually Public Enemy Radio (not Public Enemy) — which was created by Chuck D — were scheduled to perform but Flavor Flav wanted to make it clear that he would not be attending. He also said he hasn’t even made the decision to endorse Bernie yet, or any candidate at this moment.
After the letter was sent, an announcement was made, “Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav,” the hip-hop legends said in a brief statement Sunday. “We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.”
The group reiterated that Public Enemy Radio — a Chuck D-led offshoot featuring DJ Lord, Jahi, and the S1Ws — would still perform at the free, livestreamed Sanders rally gig at 6 p.m. PST at the Los Angeles Convention Center — which they did but ironically their wasn’t much hype coming from the crowd.
Not everyone’s a Public Enemy Radio fan pic.twitter.com/KzvFTH2zX6
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) March 2, 2020
When Flav got wind that he was “fired” from the group, he immediately went to social media.
.@MrChuckD are you kidding me right now???,,,over Bernie Sanders??? You wanna destroy something we’ve built over 35 years OVER POLITICS???,,,all because I don’t wanna endorse a candidate,,,I’m very disappointed in you and your decisions right now Chuck,,,
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) March 2, 2020
Also .@MrChuckD,,,i’m not on drugs like you’re saying and have been clean for 10 years,,,i have battled addiction before and like millions of other Americans I know the massive toll it takes,,,Chuck you know better than to lie about shit like that,,,,
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) March 2, 2020
And .@MrChuckD,,,i didn’t sue you on Friday,,,i asked the @berniesanders campaign to correct misleading marketing,,,that’s all it was,,,I’m not your employee,,,i’m your partner,,,you can’t fire me,,,there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav,,,so let’s get it right Chuck,,,
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) March 2, 2020
But Chuck D says this dismissal has nothing to do with Bernie Sanders.
… last final note the last final note was my last straw was long ago. It’s not about BERNIE with Flav… he don’t know the difference between BarrySanders or BernieSanders he don’t know either. FLAV refused to support @Sankofa after @harrybelafonte inducted us. He don’t do that pic.twitter.com/5Ky9dTnzmd
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2020
He added…
So I don’t attack FLAV on what he don’t know. I gotta leave him at the crib so y’all trying to fill his persona with some political aplomb is absolutely‘stupid’ Obviously I understand his craziness after all this damn time. Duh you don’t know him from a box of cigars or me either
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2020
Chuck D went on to say…
Spoke @BernieSanders rally with @EnemyRadio. If there was a $bag, Flav would’ve been there front & center. He will NOT do free benefit shows. Sued me in court the 1st time I let him back in. His ambulance lawyer sued me again on Friday & so now he stays home & better find REHAB
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2020
I heard I’m trending, like I care . I built @EnemyRadioRS so it does benefits & fundraisers … He said he never gonna do them. So his refusal to do @HarryBelafonte #ManyRiversFestival in Atlanta 2016 was my last time. I built Enemy Radio to get far away from that ridiculousness.
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2020
This group has too much history to allow politics to come between them so hopefully they can resolve their issues.
Public Enemy’s statement added that Public Enemy Radio would release a new album in April.
