Vanilla Ice Criticized For 4th Of July Concert During COVID-19 Pandemic

BY Erika Marie 1.7K Views
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Vanilla Ice, 4th of July Concert, Texas
Vanilla Ice and Color Me Badd will be headlining a concert in Austin, Texas on Independence Day.

New York and Los Angeles are back to implementing a quarantine lockdown as restaurants, bars, and public spaces are being closed after there were surges in COVID-19 cases, but Texas... well, Texas is hosting a Vanilla Ice concert. This weekend, Americans will celebrate Independence Day on July 4, and the holiday usually is a vacation favorite filled with red, white, and blue attire. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused this year's festivities to be curbed, but that hasn't stopped some places from continuing on with their celebrations.

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According to reports, Vanilla Ice will be headlining a 4th of July concert in Austin, Texas. While public gatherings and concerts have been paused all over the country—if not the world—the "Independence Day Throwback Party" was able to move forward after organizers found a legal loophole. "The venue — Emerald Point Bar & Grill, located on the shores of Lake Travis — is technically a restaurant, even though it also has a large capacity outdoor general admission concert space," Entertainment Weekly reports. "So fans don't have to collaborate with or listen to current recommended coronavirus guidelines that seek to eliminate large crowds." The venue is selling 2,500 tickets, which is approximately half of its capacity.

Regardless of the fallout and potential spread of coronavirus in such a space, Vanilla Ice is excited to hit the stage along with Color Me Badd. “I can’t wait to get back to this," the rapper wrote on Instagram. "The 90s were the best. We didn’t have coronavirus, or cell phones, or computers. We had 5.0's, blockbuster, Beavis and Butthead, Wayne's World, Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan ... Mortal Kombat is still better than Fortnight ... the last of the great decades.”

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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