Skip to main content
Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

The ‘f-word,’ the ‘b-word’ and Cee Lo: Singer not ‘banned’ but not welcome back, official says

the-f-word-the-b-word-and-cee-lo
the-f-word-the-b-word-and-cee-lo the-f-word-the-b-word-and-cee-lo

By Casey Phillips 4 min read

photo Grammy Award-winning pop/R&B singer Cee Lo Green performs during the second night of the 2013 Riverbend Festival on the Coca-Cola Stage.

VIDEO

This story is featured in today’s TimesFreePress newscast.

photo Cee Lo Green

In the entertainment industry, “ban” is a four-letter word.

After a headlining performance Saturday that started late and included foul language in violation of a previous agreement between Cee Lo Green and Riverbend organizers, the Grammy Award-winning artist probably won’t be asked to return to the festival, but he has not been officially banned, said talent and production coordinator Joe “Dixie” Fuller.

“I never used the b-word,” Fuller said Monday in contradiction to language used in weekend media coverage describing organizers’ reaction to Green’s performance.

“I’ve been in this business for a long time, and banning somebody from coming back to Chattanooga to play music would be the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” he added. “There’s no way you’d hear those words come out of my mouth.”