State Department Drops The Beat

The real news

The story, straight

A booking is not a payment. Reserve a performer, cancel the arrangement, and the listed price does not automatically become money spent.

According to The Washington Sun, federal contracting records show Mumbai's US consulate listed a $150,520 contract with booking firm Universal Attractions on 18 Oct for Vanilla Ice to perform at a Freedom 250 event. The government zeroed out the award on 22 Oct.

He never performed and was not paid.

Our imaginary concert therefore features Lil'meme operating a paper shredder while Vanilla Ice waits with a microphone. Finally, an office machine with a solo career.

The State Department said: "The U.S. Embassy in India considered engaging Vanilla Ice for a Freedom 250 event but ultimately decided not to move forward." It also said entertainment associated with these events "receives no U.S. taxpayer funding or subsidies."

Where would the money have come from? The spokesperson did not specify.

The records list the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs as the funding office. That leaves a funding question, not proof taxpayers paid the rapper.

The useful distinction: a cancelled award is not a paid bill. Check whether money actually moved before calling it wasted spending.

Roast the booking paperwork, not an imaginary payout.

Like or repost: the shredder's agent is already negotiating an encore.

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