The U.S. Embassy in India planned a $150,520 performance by Vanilla Ice during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Mumbai, India, last month, according to federal contracting documents.
But Vanilla Ice — given name: Robert Van Winkle — never performed and didn’t get paid.
“The U.S. Embassy in India considered engaging Vanilla Ice for a Freedom 250 event but ultimately decided not to move forward,” a State Department spokesperson told The Washington Sun. “Freedom 250 programming celebrates American culture and talent with audiences around the world. Any entertainment associated with these events receives no U.S. taxpayer funding or subsidies.”
The spokesperson did not specify where the funds to pay for the performer would come from. Federal contracting documents naming Vanilla Ice list the funding office as the State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
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The Vanilla Ice-State Department collaboration disintegrated almost as quickly as it materialized.
On Oct. 20, Rubio attended a Freedom 250 reception with Ambassador to India Sergio Gor to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary and “the enduring friendship between the United States and India.” Freedom 250, separate from nonprofit America250, is a public-private partnership put on by the Trump administration.
Two days prior, the State Department’s American consulate in Mumbai listed a contract with talent booking firm Universal Attractions for Vanilla Ice to perform at the Freedom 250 event. But Vanilla Ice never took the stage, and on Oct. 22, the federal government zeroed out the $150,520 award.
“The State Department remains committed to responsible stewardship of public resources while showcasing the best of American culture abroad,” the spokesperson added. Universal Attractions did not respond to a request for comment.
Vanilla Ice has now crossed paths with the Trump administration several times this year.
In April, Rubio and Gor joined President Donald Trump at an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Miami. Vanilla Ice “showed up at one point” in between fights, per a White House reporter pool report.
Van Winkle was also among the nine musical acts initially slated to perform for this summer’s Freedom 250 events on the National Mall. Seven artists dropped out before their planned performances, although Vanilla Ice held fast.
“It’s crazy that all the attention is coming down on all this event and everything because I’m honored and just super proud,” Van Winkle said on Fox News. “My mom is proud, and everybody I know is like, ‘This is awesome.’”
“And then there’s some people that are bailing out and all this stuff,” he continued. “And I’m like, ‘Why?’ You know, this will be the greatest concert on the planet.”
Vanilla Ice’s concert was ultimately scrapped due to “inclement weather.”
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