Rolling Stone is reporting that Public Enemy is “moving forward” without Flavor Flav, firing one of hip-hop’s most recognizable figures.
The abrupt dismissal comes just two days after the rapper sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bernie Sanders over Chuck D’s concert at the campaign’s Los Angeles rally Sunday.
The letter asked the Sanders camp to stop promoting a campaign event using the Public Enemy name.
According to Rolling Stone:
The cease-and-desist letter, sent to Sanders Friday by Flavor Flav’s lawyer Matthew Friedman, accused the campaign of using the hypeman’s 'unauthorized likeness, image, and trademarked clock' to promote the rally, even though Flavor Flav 'has not endorsed any political candidate.'
The letter stressed the performance at a Sanders rally was only to feature Chuck D of Public Enemy.
The planned performance will only be of Chuck D of Public Enemy, it will not be a performance of Public Enemy. Those that truly know what Public Enemy stands for know what time it is, there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav.
The letter later said:
The Public Enemy movement cannot allow its cultural identity, likeness and life's work to be misappropriated by political operatives in support of a fictional revolution - Don't believe The Hype!
Flavor Flav, A.K.A, William J. Drayton was a member of Public Enemy over 35 years.
(Screenshot of letter from Flav's legal team sent to Bernie Sanders).