Public Enemy part ways with Flavor Flav, played Bernie Sanders rally (watch)

UPDATE: Flavor Flav blasts Chuck D for kicking him out of Public Enemy over politics.
UPDATE 2: Public Enemy say they “did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views.”

Public Enemy were billed to perform at a Bernie Sanders rally in LA on Sunday (3/1), but the announcement was a little confusing at first, as the event flyer said “Public Enemy” but the RSVP page said “Public Enemy Radio,” an offshoot version of the group with Chuck D but no Flavor Flav. Before the event, Flavor Flav sent Bernie Sanders a cease and desist, writing “While Chuck is certainly free to express his political views as he sees fit—his voice alone does not speak for Public Enemy. The planned performance will only be Chuck D of Public Enemy, it will not be a performance by Public Enemy. Those who truly know what Public Enemy stands for know what time it is, there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav.”

Chuck D then gave a statement to HipHopDX, 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 also said, “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-80’s, is also the creative visionary and the group’s primary songwriter, having written Flavor’s most memorable lines.”

Apparently Flavor Flav had less than a year, as Public Enemy has now issued a statement to Pitchfork, saying that Flavor Flav is officially no longer a member of Public Enemy after 37 years. “Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav. We thank him for his years of service and wish him well,” the statement reads.

UPDATE: Flavor Flav blasts Chuck D for kicking him out of Public Enemy over politics.
UPDATE 2: Public Enemy say they “did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views.”

Meanwhile, Public Enemy Radio — whose lineup is Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi, and the S1Ws — played the Bernie Sanders rally as planned. The full event (which also featured Sarah Silverman and Dick Van Dyke) streamed live, and you can watch an archive of the stream HERE. Public Enemy Radio come on around the 39 minute mark.