(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Country music artist Luke Bryan hosted a concert raising money for victims of Hurricane Ian, inviting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis onto the stage.
“We’re going to have some fun and raise some money tonight for the great state of Florida,” Bryan said, beckoning DeSantis onto the stage to deafening cheers.
According to Louder with Crowder, Bryan later had to defend his actions as alleged country music fans attacked him, accusing him of being a bigot and claiming that by calling DeSantis onstage as his guest Bryan has shown himself to be a racist, sexist immigrant-hater.
I am so dismayed that you had DeSantis on stage with you. He embodies what is wrong with humanity; he pulls stunts that are racist and he is truly an evil man with no soul. I can no longer listen to your music in good conscious, you are a huge disappointment.
— Laura Malcom 🌻🇺🇦 (@LJMalcom) October 29, 2022
“I am so dismayed that you had DeSantis on stage with you,” one twitter user whined.
“He embodies what is wrong with humanity; he pulls stunts that are racist and he is truly an evil man with no soul,” continued the tweet. “I can no longer listen to your music in good conscious [sic], you are a huge disappointment.”
Another Twitter user took this as Bryan’s admission that “he hates women, LGBTQ people and immigrants.”
So Luke Bryan admits he hates women, LGBTQ people and immigrants. https://t.co/nFEdrORb4R
— amanda (@AmandaK982) October 29, 2022
Others barraged Bryan with excessive profanity.
Bryan responded to the upheaval in a statement of his own via Twitter.
“I understand Governor Desantis is a very polarizing figure,” Bryan wrote. “But I grew up in a country where if a governor ask[s] you if they can come and raise awareness to help victims of a natural disaster you help.”
“I’ve generally stayed out of politics throughout my career. I knew people would chatter about this but for me the more important piece was If I am going to come back there a few weeks after a large portion of people have been affected by a natural disaster in a state where people have been good to me this felt right,” he said.
— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) October 30, 2022
DeSantis, meanwhile, thanked the country star for letting him “crash the party,” Just the News reported.
Thanks for letting me crash the party last night, @lukebryan! pic.twitter.com/GCuTELFOM9
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) October 29, 2022
The appearance followed an earlier one in which DeSantis, who enjoys rock-star status of his own in his home state and is considered to be second only to former President Donald Trump in likely 2024 GOP presidential contenders, joined legendary Florida Southern-rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd onstage two weeks ago, Headline Health reported.
