Outspoken rocker Ted Nugent filed a civil complaint Aug. 21 in Grand Rapids (Mich.) Federal Court regarding the cancelation of his planned June 30 appearance at the Summer Celebration in Muskegon, Mich., Billboard Bulletin reports.
According to the suit, festival organizers canceled Nugent’s performance in mid-May, issuing statements to the press that they were doing so because he allegedly made “derogatory racial remarks” during a May 5 radio interview with KRFX Denver. Nugent denies making any such comments.
Defendants in the case include Summer Celebration president Joe Austin, the City of Muskegon, Mayor Stephen Warmington, City Manager Bryon Mazade and promoter Meridian Entertainment. The suit seeks a jury trial, and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
“It’s not in [Nugent] to make racial slurs, and that’s why he’s so angered by [the City’s] actions,” Mike Novak, Nugent’s longtime attorney, tells Bulletin. “I tried to explain to them that they picked the wrong artist to do this to.”
Muskegon city officials declined to comment.
