Following Bud Light’s recent collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, the beer brand experienced a significant decrease in sales, with a reported decline of nearly 25% in May. However, despite the boycott, sales slump, and backlash, Garth Brooks revealed in a recent interview with Billboard that his forthcoming Nashville bar, located in the South Broadway district, would remain committed to serving Bud Light to its patrons.
“Our thing is this: if you [are let] into this house, love one another,” the country musician explained to the news outlet. “If you’re an asshole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway.”
Garth Brooks says customers of his bar decide what beer brands he sells
In a Facebook Live video made by the Grammy winner, he stated that his decision to stick with selling Bud Light was born out of his desire to ensure that every customer is treated right. “Everybody’s got their opinions. But inclusiveness is always going to be me,” Brooks confessed. “I think diversity is the answer to the problems that are here and the answer to the problems that are coming. So, I love diversity. All inclusive, so all are welcome. I understand that might not be other people’s opinions, but that’s OK, man. They have their opinions. They have their beliefs. I have mine.”
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Brooks further detailed in an interview with Fox News Digital that the decision regarding the availability of the beer brand at his bars would be determined by his patrons, and he, as the owner, has to stock up on popular beverages. “I’m a bar owner now. Are we going to have the most popular beers in the thing? Yes,” he explained. “It’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 saying, ‘Man, your stuff’s not selling.’ And then the action gets taken, right?”
“But the truth is, it’s those people in those seats that make those decisions. And that’s what Friends in Low Places is gonna be. Rich, who owns Big & Rich bar, assesses his business differently. “The customers aren’t going to order it. I’m not going to stock it. We’ve only got limited area,” he stated further. “I’ve got a limited bar. It’s like… I’ve got to put beer and whiskey and vodkas up here that people want to purchase and they want to support… And brother, I can tell you right now, it’s a vicious attitude toward Bud Light.”
The singer’s comment drew criticism from fans
Brooks’ statements faced backlash from conservative country music fans who voiced their dissatisfaction on various social media platforms. “Garth Brooks doesn’t seem to understand that ‘woke’ and ‘honky tonk’ don’t go together,” a TikToker said. “He’s making me want to go to Nashville,” another TikTok user wrote, “just so I could go ahead and piss on his doorstep.”
“Now I delete every Garth Brooks song from my collection. NEVER AGAIN GARTH!” tweeted Robert Cornicelli, a New York Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate.
“I’m sure glad we have Garth Brooks to tell us who is and isn’t an asshole,” Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz wrote on Twitter. “Question, tho: Does it make someone an asshole if they cheat on their spouse, write a song about it with their paramour, and then publish the duet with THAT VERY paramour? Or does that make for a good person, righteous in their moral preening?”