Country music star John Rich recently weighed in on the controversy surrounding fellow country music artist and Nashville bar owner Garth Brooks’ decision to continue selling Bud Light at his establishment, despite a nationwide boycott of the beer brand due to its partnership with trans–identified influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Rich discussed the continuing trend of “woke” culture, as well as Brooks’ decision to continue to offer Bud Light at his bar.
Rich noted his own customers’ reactions to Bud Light’s decision by saying, “I think people finally had enough of woke culture being right in their face like a bullhorn every time they turn around.” He said they “rejected” the brand, saying, “we moved on to other beers.”
He also asserted that the issue tapped into a deeper concern beyond beer choice, saying, “You know, at the end of a hard–working day, you want to have a cold beer. That’s like your reward for working hard all day. The last thing any man or woman wants is to have culture slammed right up in their face.”
Despite the criticism, Rich said he respected Brooks’ decision to continue selling Bud Light, praising the singer for being “the guy that said, ‘everybody come to my show.’” Rich added, “It’s something that we love about Garth. You know, he makes his music for everybody. And that really is what music is about. You’re making your music for everybody. Beer’s for everybody, too.”
Rich also reflected on the big–picture issue, noting that Bud Light drinkers have always been a varied bunch who often disagreed politically but all chose the same brand of beer. He explained, “They made it a political social issue on what beer you drink, and I think that’s a sad statement on our country right now. But, hey, it’s their money. It’s their brand. They can market it however they want to, but Americans have responded in a very strong way.”
At the end of the day, Rich said the ultimate decision of where to enjoy a beer falls into the hands of the consumer, noting that “Garth Brooks has always been the guy that said, ‘everybody come to my show.’” He said, “If Garth is serving Bud Light in his bar, that’s fine. Garth can do that. Garth might find out not many people are going to order it. And at the end of the day, you have to put things in your establishment that people are going to purchase if you’re going to run a successful business. So, he might find that out.”
