Country singer Luke Bryan did not back down from his decision to bring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on stage during a concert in Jacksonville, Florida.
Footage of DeSantis joining Bryan on stage during a concert to raise money for victims impacted by Hurricane Ian sparked backlash over the weekend.
In case you missed it:
DeSantis just walked out on stage at Luke Bryan. It’s deafening in here. pic.twitter.com/WHelgPCxM1
— Bonnie Upright, APR (@bonnieupright) October 29, 2022
Several users expressed their disapproval of Bryan’s decision.
One user tweeted, “Hey [Luke Bryan] most people are good but [Ron DeSantis] is not one of them. I’m incredibly disappointed in you and will no longer support your music or [American Idol] as long as you’re on it. Ron Desantis is a hateful bigot. Shame on you Luke Bryan, shame on you.”
Hey @lukebryan most people are good but #RonDeSantis is not one of them. I’m incredibly disappointed in you and will no longer support your music or @AmericanIdol as long as you’re on it. Ron Desantis is a hateful bigot. Shame on you Luke Bryan, shame on you. https://t.co/rgOfgxT7FC
— The_Charming_Avenger (@Boeing74) October 30, 2022
Another wrote, “Goes to music library to delete Luke Bryan songs. Realizes there are none to delete. Back to Night Ranger, thanks.”
Goes to music library to delete Luke Bryan songs.
— Steve Marmel (@Marmel) October 30, 2022
Realizes there are none to delete.
Back to Night Ranger, thanks. https://t.co/RAVCVOxHON
Check out more reactions below:
https://twitter.com/AnnemarieDalton/status/1586821902705647616
LOL. In case you didn’t know Luke Bryan sucked. Throwing hats like trump. Wearing a vest like Youngkin. DeSantis is like a MAGA potpourri doll https://t.co/Jf5MTIaoBO
— Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) October 30, 2022
Hey @lukebryan, you know what would be my kind of night? Election night, when we elect Charlie Crist as the next Governor of Florida, not this human trafficking totalitarian who’s obsessed with power and won’t do a damn thing to help the average Floridian.
— Jayson Frascatore (@JaysonFras) October 30, 2022
Vote for Democrats. https://t.co/lvIcuPy25H
Sickening.
— 𝒜𝓃𝓃ℯ 𝒥ℯ𝓃𝓈ℯ𝓃 (@annemargaretj) October 30, 2022
Just Sickening.
No more Luke Bryan for anyone who has a soul. https://t.co/9ER8rMXHFv
Honestly I appreciate when celebrities show themselves to be racist trash so I know who not to support. https://t.co/VB6aQF46Mq
— EC Crippen (@elmercc3) October 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/tdthomas117/status/1586567999678472193
And we’re done listening to Luke Bryan https://t.co/16TyooZ1FF
— sally messy raphael (@Jake_Rudy) October 30, 2022
Bryan went on to issue a statement detailing his reasoning behind the decision to involve DeSantis.
“I typically don’t respond to stuff when I’m getting run down on a social platform but here’s the deal,” Bryan wrote.
He added, “I understand Governor DeSantis is a very polarizing figure. But I grew up in a country where if a governor ask you if they can come and raise awareness to help victims of a natural disaster you help.”
The singer explained he has “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.”
Read the statement below:
— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) October 30, 2022
Concluding his statement, Bryan called on users to text “disaster to 20222 to support.”