The Bud Light controversy doesn’t seem to be slowing down as people continue to grow more passionate and opinionated on the topic.
Country singer Garth Brooks is the latest celebrity to take a side on the Bud Light issue and he’s received praise and criticism for his stand.
During an interview with Billboard during CMA Fest, Brooks told the crowd that he would be serving “every brand of beer” at his soon-to-open Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk. Without naming Bud Light specifically, Brooks took a swing at some of his fellow country singers who chose to pull the beverage from their establishments after the brand’s controversial partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Garth further defended his stand a few days later on his Facebook Live show, Studio G. In the video he defended his position and said that he’s no stranger to controversy and referenced the backlash he received upon the release of his 1992 song “We Shall Be Free.”
“Diversity. Inclusiveness. That’s me. That’s always been me,” the 61-year-old singer said. “We got the same kind of thing on ‘We Shall Be Free.’ We got people wanting to burn our stuff. So I get it. Everybody’s got their opinions. But, inclusiveness is always gonna be me. I think diversity is the answer to the problems that are here, and the answer to the problems that are coming.”
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Country singer John Rich, who has been vocal about his opposition to Bud Light’s partnership choice, defended Garth, saying:
“Garth Brooks has always been the guy that that said, ‘everybody come to my show,’” Rich told Fox News Digital. “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.”
“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,” he said. “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.”
But, not everyone was so understanding.
Rob Schneider, beloved comedian, actor and the father of singer Elle King, told Fox News Digital that Garth will likely think twice before voicing his opinion on controversial topics next time.
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“I think next time, he’s going to stay out of it. Isn’t he? I think Garth Brooks, next time, is going to shut his mouth, and he’s going to pretend like ‘I don’t have anything to do with what beer is chosen in my restaurant’,” Schneider said.
“I think the culture is in a very weird little place of hypersensitivity one way or the other. And I think that’s why most people shut their mouths.”Schneider added, “I mean, just from a business standpoint, just shut up, say I have nothing to do with it.”
Schneider suggested that it was the singer’s ego that got him in hot water because he tried to win back those who took issue with his stand.
“That’s the thing. I’m just as susceptible as Garth – ego. You know, he had to put this in, ‘Well, I think that, you know, I’m a good person because I did…’ And it’s like, shut up,” Schneider said.
Garth Brooks hasn’t responded to Rob Schneider’s statement.