Public Enemy have parted ways with founder member Flavor Flav following a disagreement over the group’s decision to play at a Bernie Sanders rally.
"Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav," the group said in a statement announcing the move. "We thank him for his years of service and wish him well."
Writing on Twitter today (March 2), Chuck D added that Flav had tried to sue him in the past and suggested that he was only motivated by money. He said that Flav "will NOT do free benefit shows" and added that "now he stays home and better find rehab."
The news that Flav had left Public Enemy follows the issue of a cease and desist letter issued by the rapper two days ago after it was announced that Public Enemy would be performing at a Bernie Sanders rally in Los Angeles. Flavor Flav claimed that the Sanders campaign circulated "the unauthorised use of [his] likeness, image and trademarked clock in promotional materials." The performance went ahead last night (March 1).
The announcement by the Sanders campaign specifically stated that the rally would feature a performance by Public Enemy Radio, which is a separate entity to Public Enemy in that the line-up features Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi and the S1Ws, and not Flavor Flav. Lawyers for Flav on Friday (February 28) said that the rapper had personally "not endorsed any political candidate in this election cycle."
Chuck D issued a first statement on the matter yesterday (March 1), saying: "Flavor chooses to dance for his money and not do benevolent work like this. He has a year to get his act together and get himself straight or he’s out."
Chuck D’s attorney added at the time: "From a legal standpoint, Chuck could perform as Public Enemy if he ever wanted to; he is the sole owner of the Public Enemy trademark. He originally drew the logo himself in the mid-’80s, is also the creative visionary and the group’s primary songwriter, having written Flavor’s most memorable lines."
