Flavor Flav Hits Bernie Sanders With Cease & Desist Over Public Enemy Rally

Flavor Flav has issued a cease and desist over Public Enemy performing at a Bernie Sanders rally. The statement addressed, in part, “the unauthorized use of [Flavor Flav’s] likeness, image and trademarked clock in promotional materials circulated by the [Sanders] campaign.”

Earlier this week, the Sanders campaign announced the rally in Los Angeles that would feature a performance from Public Enemy Radio. The group distinguishes itself from Public Enemy in that the lineup features Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi, and the S1Ws. Flavor Flav is not a member of Public Enemy Radio.

The cease and desist, issued through Flavor Flav’s attorney Matthew H. Friedman, says that the performance will only feature co-founder Chuck D, which aligns with the campaign’s distinction. The statement also insisted that Flavor Flav had not endorsed Sanders for president, “and any suggestion to the contrary is plainly untrue.” Flavor Flav signed the cease and desist with the handwritten note, “Hey Bernie, don’t do this!!”

On Saturday, Chuck D addressed the issue in a statement. “Flavor chooses to dance for his money and not do benevolent work like this,” he wrote. “He has a year to get his act together and get himself straight or he’s out.” Chuck D’s attorney elaborated: “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-’80s, is also the creative visionary and the group’s primary songwriter, having written Flavor’s most memorable lines.”

Pitchfork has contacted representatives for the Sanders campaign.

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Originally Appeared on Pitchfork