Vanilla Ice chilled plans for a concert in Texas after taking considerable heat for an event that sought to gather hundreds of fans at one of the nation’s coronavirus hot spots.
The 1990s rapper with the hit single “Ice Ice Baby” was scheduled for a lakeside concert outside Austin on Friday (July 3), but on Thursday he announced he was going to be postponed.
“Due to the increase in COVID-19 numbers in Austin, we are going to bring the concert to a better date,” Vanilla Ice tweeted. “We were expecting better Coronavirus numbers for July, but unfortunately the numbers have increased quite a bit, so for everyone’s safety and health we are going to stay home.”
Barrett Brannam, owner of the place where Vanilla Ice had been programmed to play, said the artist, whose real name is Robert Van Winkle, had expressed concern for the health of his fans and himself. Brannam said the planned appearance for 90s R&B group Color Me Badd was also postponed. He said both Vanilla Ice and Color Me Badd would be acting at a later date, but he didn’t know when.
“Hard to say. It could be later this summer or not until next summer. We don’t know how long this virus will be present,” he said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott last week shut down bars and clubs in an effort to stop what he called a “massive spread” of the coronavirus. But the Emerald Point Bar & Grill is still open and offers live music because it is a restaurant and the performances can take place outside.
The Vanilla Ice show drew wide attention, and criticism, when the rapper posted about it on social media on Wednesday. Only 84 tickets had been sold before the online ticket broker suspended sales, Brannam said.
“I take the coronavirus seriously. But we can’t live in a bubble, ”the rapper tweeted before canceling Thursday. “I think at this point we all understand the seriousness of it. (P) Ractify social distancing and wear a mask. This is an outdoor location, the fourth of July on the lake with fireworks. Plenty of room for distancing.
The rapper’s management company did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Brannam said he had not been under any pressure to cancel the state or local government program, but has been overwhelmed by the complaints.
Vanilla Ice played at the same venue last year in front of 1,800 people and is reserved for the holiday weekend for the next two years, Brannam said. Friday’s concert was booked in 2019, he said.
“I didn’t know about COVID when I booked this show. No one did, “Brannam said.
Brannam said the rapper had vowed to ask fans to wear masks and follow proper social distancing guidelines. The place would check customers’ temperatures at the entrance and give a mask to anyone who needed it, he said.
The restaurant has been hosting live music performances since it reopened in May. Brannam said no one complained until it was a Vanilla Ice concert.
Brannam said he postponed the upcoming Coolio and Tone Loc concerts next weekend because he would not lose money.
Vanilla Ice is ready for people to make fun of him. No one said anything until it was published. It was then that everything went crazy, ”said Brannam. “I am the most hated person on the planet right now for a Vanilla Ice show.”
