Featured Image Credit: Associated Press / Panther Media GmbH / Alamy
Topics: Music, Food and Drink, LGBTQ
Katherine Sidnell
Topics: Music, Food and Drink, LGBTQ
Garth Brooks has responded to backlash after the country music star revealed he would sell Bud Light beer at his bar.
The ‘Friends in Low Places’ singer has come under fire for the decision, after the much-loved beer brand partnered with trans influencer, Dylan Mulvaney.
However, Brooks has ignored the criticism and revealed that his Nashville bar will be ‘all-inclusive’.
Brooks first came under fire when he spoke about his new Nashville bar, The Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk, in an interview with Billboard.
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When asked about the ongoing Bud Light controversy, the 61-year-old said that he would sell ‘every brand of beer’ – unlike other musicians.
In fact, Big & Rich's John Rich, who also runs a bar in Nashville, had previously he would stop selling Bud Light.
"The customers aren't going to order it," Rich explained to Fox News. "I'm not going to stock it. We've only got a limited area. I've got a limited bar.”
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He added: “And brother, I can tell you right now, it's a vicious attitude toward Bud Light.”
Meanwhile, Brooks referred to this comment in his interview with Billboard, saying he wanted patrons to feel ‘safe’ in his new bar – including the trans and LGBT community.
"I want it to be a place you feel safe in… And yes, we’re going to serve every brand of beer. We just are,” he said.
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“If you’re an a--hole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway."
Since then, Brooks has come under fire for his decision with transphobic backlash – including from Congressman Matt Gaetz.
While the country music star has faced a backlash on social media, he took to Facebook to reaffirm his stance during a live stream.
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“We did an interview with Melinda Newman from Billboard, and from that came quite a little bit of a stir,” he joked. “So let’s … address two things on it. One is diversity. Inclusiveness: That’s me. That’s always been me.
“Here’s the deal, man: If you want to come to Friends in Low Places, come in. Come in with love. Come in with tolerance, patience. Come in with an open mind, and it’s cool. And if you’re one of those people who just can’t do that, I get it. If you ever are one of those people who want to try, come! Let’s have some fun. I don’t know how to explain it any better than that.
“Second thing, though: Let’s talk about being a bar owner.
“I’m a bar owner now. Are we going to have the most popular beers in the thing? Yes. That’s not our call if we don’t or not. It’s the patrons’ call — the bosses, right? Bring ’em in there. If they don’t want it, then I got to go to the distributor and say, ‘Man, your stuff’s not selling.’ And then action gets taken. But the truth is, it’s those people in those seats that make those decisions, and that’s what Friends in Low Places is going to be.”