Jett and her band, The Blackhearts, will be moved to another float after ranchers in the state complain about having a vegetarian representing them at the annual parade in NYC..
- Nov 18, 2013
AceShowbiz - Joan Jett is no longer expected to be part of South Dakota's Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade float. Jett and her band, The Blackhearts, will be moved to another float because South Dakotan ranchers are not happy to have the vegetarian rocker and PETA activist representing their state, where the cattle industry makes up a huge part of the economy.
"I've decided to switch from South Dakota to another float because people's political agendas were getting in the way of what should be a purely entertainment driven event," Jett said in a statement released on Saturday, November 16. "I will remain focused on entertaining the millions of people watching, who will be celebrating a great American tradition."
South Dakota Cattlemen's Association's Jodiae Anderson has spoken out about Jett's removal from the state's float. "When we learned that about Miss Jett, we were rightly concerned about her representing South Dakota and a state that is so heavily reliant on agriculture and livestock production to drive our economy," he said.
Orlando Veras, Macy's parade spokesman, told The Associated Press on Friday that a new performer for the South Dakota float would be announced later. Veras also said that the annual parade would be about entertainment, not advocacy.
"The Parade has never taken on, promoted or otherwise engaged in social commentary, political debate, or other forms of advocacy, no matter how worthy," Veras explained. "Macy's intention is only to provide a range of entertaining elements and performers free of endorsements or agendas."
