Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) came to singer Jason Aldean’s defense following backlash he received for one of his songs.
On Wednesday, DeSantis, 44, extended his support to Aldean, 46, on Twitter in response to a statement the country star made about his controversial song “Try That In a Small Town.”
“When the media attacks you, you’re doing something right. [Jason Aldean] has nothing to apologize for,” DeSantis wrote.
When the media attacks you, you’re doing something right. @Jason_Aldean has nothing to apologize for. https://t.co/oEhCFS4CGM
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) July 19, 2023
Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also came to Aldean’s defense, pointing fingers at “the Left.”
“The Left is now more concerned about [Jason Aldean’s] song calling out looters and criminals than they are about stopping looters and criminals. That tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of Democrats and woke companies like CMT that cave to the liberal mob,” she wrote in response to Country Music Television’s (CMT) decision to pull his music video from the air.
In a video posted by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) to Twitter, she shared she was “shocked” by the responses “from this country” and “with people attempting to cancel this song, and cancel Jason and his beliefs.”
She proceeded to give her love and support to Aldean and his wife, Brittany, and expressed her gratitude to Aldean for “writing a song that America can get behind.”
My thoughts on “Try that in a Small Town”…. @Jason_Aldean pic.twitter.com/umJ8qFvy2o
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) July 19, 2023
“Keep singing, keep playing, and if you want to come to South Dakota, I’ll let you play anywhere, we’ll facilitate it. I know you’re coming in August, but if you want to come sing it on the governor’s residence front lawn, we’ll do it proudly,” she concluded.
The Left is now more concerned about @Jason_Aldean’s song calling out looters and criminals than they are about stopping looters and criminals.
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) July 19, 2023
That tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of Democrats and woke companies like CMT that cave to the liberal mob. https://t.co/ctYP7FRxrv
In his statement, posted to Twitter on Tuesday, Aldean fired back at accusations claiming his new song is ”pro lynching” and was in reference to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in 2020.
“These references are not only meritless but dangerous,” he wrote. “There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.”
In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous.…
— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023
Aldean further explained the song was about “the feeling of a community” he “had growing up.”
“Where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences,” he added.
Aldean concluded, “My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this Country don’t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to- that’s what this song is about.”