Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Jared Leto and Adam Sandler are among the celebrities who declined invites to Trump’s UFC Freedom 250 event

Several A-list celebrities invited to Donald Trump’s UFC cage fight on the White House lawn later this month have no plans to show up, according to a new report, becoming the latest group to snub a presidential celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Comedian Adam Sandler, actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, actor and musician Jared Leto and television host Mario Lopez are among the names that UFC President and CEO Dana White told Time were invited to the event on Trump’s birthday, June 14. But representatives for the stars, and one person close to Johnson, told Vanity Fair that none of them plan to attend.

It’s the latest group of high-profile figures to decline an invite to a Trump-linked event in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Last month, the administration was dealt a blow when several musicians pulled out of performances at the Great American State Fair after learning the event was sponsored by Freedom 250, a Trump-affiliated group.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    2 hours ago

    He could offer himself and his cabinet members as contestants. A lot of people would pay for the chance to beat the shit out if him…

  • notannpc@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    Not even Jared Leto wants to show up 😂

    It’s safe to assume anyone that does show up who is not being paid to be there is probably a pedophile.

  • backalleycoyote@lemmy.today
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    3 hours ago

    Kevin Sorbo, Dean Cain, Chris Pratt, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Woody Allen, Gina Carano, Dickey Barrett, the MyPillow Guy, Shamwow Guy, Gwen Stafani, and a half dozen country music artists who all look and sound vaguely the same are hoping theirs are in the mail.

    • BassTurd@lemmy.world
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      1 hour ago

      I knew of everyone on here except I don’t recognize Dickey, and wasn’t aware of issues with Shamwow Vince (his history makes it not surprising), and didn’t know Gwen is also B-a-n-a-n-a-s.

      • backalleycoyote@lemmy.today
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        51 minutes ago

        Dickey is the former singer for 90s ska band Mighty Mighty Bosstones and was Jimmy Kimmel’s band leader until he went full MAGA over Covid. His band kicked him out and the punk scene disowned him so he went and formed a new group with all the other aging “punks” who have decided Trumpism is the “real rebellion” and have been 86’d from their bands. It’s the saddest, sorriest bunch of middle aged losers that might have figured out the music and the fashion but never actually got the message.

  • ZeroCool@piefed.ca
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    4 hours ago

    and television host Mario Lopez

    Wait, is Mario Lopez a “celebrity” UFC fan or something? I can’t for the life of me understand why A.C. Slater is even being mentioned in this article. I heard him doing one of those shitty commercials that get injected into podcasts a couple of weeks ago, and it’s literally the first time I’ve thought of the guy in 15+ years.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      23 minutes ago

      He’s right-wing, or at least acts like it.

      Any D list celebrity that is openly right wing will show up all.ovwe the place, because there’s nothing better.

    • sbbq@lemmy.zip
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      3 hours ago

      Pretty sure he hosted entertainment tonight for many years.

      eta: Nope, it was Extra and Access Hollywood. Same idea though.

      • ZeroCool@piefed.ca
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        2 hours ago

        Ah, that explains it, thanks! I don’t watch those kinds of shows so I guess he’s just been successful in one of my entertainment blindspots.

    • adarza@piefed.ca
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      3 hours ago

      he’s stayed ‘busy’ since his sbtb days, just not in anything really all that noteworthy.

  • adarza@piefed.ca
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    4 hours ago

    anyone who cares about their reputation and career will stay far away from the liar-in-chief and his ‘events’

    • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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      3 hours ago

      Even if you had no scruples, who’s gonna perform for a Guest of Honor who’s going to fall asleep during the match anyway?

    • phdepressed@sh.itjust.works
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      3 hours ago

      How else is Jared out of jail while known to be running a sex cult with underage girls and keeps getting cast in big films.

      Suicide squad, justice league, Morbius, Blade runner 2049, etc.

      Hasn’t been in anything too successful in a while but you know who he is. Same for the Dwayne and Adam. Tbf I’m not much of a film guy but like what have any of them even been in recently?

  • Alexstarfire@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    I’m not surprised this event is actually happening, but it’s so hard to tell what’s satire these days. It sounded too stupid to be true.

  • DagwoodIII@piefed.social
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    3 hours ago

    Which proves that we need the golden ballroom.

    No one wants to come to these events because of the terrorist threat.

    Checkmate!

    [no sarcasm intended, because you know it’ll be a talking point by Wednesday]