COPY CAT? “I was presented an opportunity to perform at a non-partisan event…”

By now you’ve almost certainly heard that Bret Michaels and Martina McBride have backed out of performing at the Freedom250 concert celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

It’s been all over the news today:

Slew of musicians back out of Freedom 250 concert: Bret Michaels, Martina McBride and more https://t.co/tmmDtY4sX6 pic.twitter.com/2e19powzIp

— New York Post (@nypost) May 29, 2026

I have a couple thoughts…

First thought: WHO?

Seriously, this is the best we could get, two washed up musicians who’s fame hit it’s peak back when the calendar year still started with a 19 instead of a 20?

Lame!

I’m glad they’re not coming, we can do much better.

But the second thought I had was: Did the same person write both of their statements?

In other words, is this orchestrated?

I’ll show you what I mean…

Here is McBride’s statement:

pic.twitter.com/Ono3zPi54Z

— Martina McBride (@martinamcbride) May 29, 2026

FULL TEXT:

I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25th. I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading. I asked lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states. In my mind I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can. I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special.
Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even. Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.
I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one. It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you, that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out. I hope to get back to the DC area very soon.
-MM

Bret Michaels posted a longer statement here, but pay particular attention to the part I bolded:

Hello to all my awesome friends & fans,

I wanted to jump on here real quick and talk about the upcoming Freedom 250 event in Washington, D.C.

When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life. As the son of a veteran, and coming from a family that has proudly served, that is something I have always been honored to support.

As many of you know, I’ve spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity and good vibes. My shows have never been about politics. They’re about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life’s stresses for a few hours.

Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable.

Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.

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This isn’t about politics. It’s about staying true to what I’ve always believed in. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. That’s one of the freedoms our veterans fought for and something I’ve always respected. But as a father, friend and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously.

I believe in our country, in the freedoms we’re afforded, and in the idea that for over 250 years we have gone through both highs and lows together and remained resilient. Music is a universal language that unites us, not divides us. Just like it did when I entertained a record-breaking crowd of over 100,000 at the St. Louis Arch for an Independence Day celebration with people from across the country who came together to honor our freedoms through music. The focus was on the music, the fans and celebrating together.

I will continue to proudly support our veterans, active military members, teachers, first responders and the organizations that serve them, just as I always have.

I also want my amazing fans in Washington, D.C. to know that I love you all, and I fully intend to come back and perform in our nation’s capital under circumstances where the focus can remain on what it should be – the music and the fans.

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In the meantime, we’ll keep the Live & Amplified Tour rocking, and I look forward to seeing all of you out on the road soon.

This is said with much love, gratitude, and respect.

Your friend,
Bret
(A lead singer with long texting issues)

I ran it through AI to see if it was just me or if the two are remarkably similar and AI called it “unusually parallel”:

Both statements follow a very similar narrative structure:

1. Initial good-faith acceptance
   • A: “When this opportunity was originally presented…”
   • B: “I was presented with an opportunity…”
2. Description of what they believed the event represented
   • A: Celebration of country, veterans, first responders, etc.
   • B: Nonpartisan celebration of all 50 states.
3. Personal values statement
   • A: Bringing people together through music, positivity, good vibes.
   • B: Music bringing people together; celebrating community.
4. Pivot / reversal
   • A: “Unfortunately… has evolved into something much more divisive…”
   • B: “Yesterday things started changing…”
5. Assertion that reality differs from what was promised
   • A: Event evolved into something different.
   • B: Event turned out to be misleading.
6. Decision not to perform
   • A: “I have made the difficult decision to step away…”
   • B: “I will not be performing…”
7. Appeal to fans and unity
   • A: Music brings people together.
   • B: Music brings people together.

That sequence is unusually parallel.

---

Specific Language Similarities

Several phrases jump out:

Statement A	Statement B
“presented to my team”	“presented with an opportunity”
“celebration”	“celebrate”
“bringing people together through music”	“bring people together in the way that only music can”
“My shows have never been about politics”	“I was assured this was a nonpartisan event”
“something much more divisive”	“what we were told is not what is happening”

The strongest overlap is the recurring “music brings people together” theme appearing at the exact same place in the narrative.

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Two huge losers, but they probably didn’t write either of those statements, and if I had to guess they didn’t make those decisions either.

My hunch?  They were told “you’re not going”.