Flavor Flav speaks onstage as WEtv celebrates the premieres of Growing Up Hip Hop New York and Untold Stories of Hip Hop on August 19, 2019 in New York City.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty
Super Tuesday is a big day for Bernie Sanders but his role in the demise of relations between Flavor Flav and the rest of Public Enemy won't be on his mind. The group parted ways with Flav over the weekend after he refused to perform at a rally for Sanders in Los Angeles. The ousted member subsequently released a statement in which he said he did not want to back a specific political candidate and thus would not be appearing at the rally. However, in a subsequent statement released to Billboard, Public Enemy have revealed a long-running feud that dates back to 2016. This past weekend, as far as they are concerned, was merely the straw that broke the camel's back.
In a statement signed by Public Enemy's Chuck D, James Bomb, DJ Lord, Pop Diesel and Jahi, the group clarifies that it "did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views."
The statement reads: "Flavor Flav has been on suspension since 2016 when he was MIA from the Harry Belafonte benefit in Atlanta, Georgia. That was the last straw for the group. He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work.
Public Enemy Radio toured Europe and co-headlined with the Wu-Tang Clan in May 2019 without Flavor. They have also done numerous benefit shows without Flavor. While Public Enemy Radio was moving forward, Flavor Flav was starring on the reality show Growing Up Hip Hop New York, when an episode featured his children discussing an intervention and putting him into rehab. It’s time to move on and everyone wishes Flavor well."
The statement was released after Chuck D aired his views on his ousting via Twitter.
"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,,," he tweeted.
"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," he continued.
"And .@MrChuckD,,,i didn't sue you on Friday,,,i asked the @berniesanders campaign to correct misleading marketing,,,that's all it was," he added. "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."
.@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
