Luke Bryan Fires Back After Receiving Backlash For Bringing DeSantis Onstage

The country music star Luke Bryan is refusing to back down after he received backlash for bringing the Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) onstage during a concert in Jacksonville on Friday.

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

‘I’ve Generally Stayed Out Of Politics’

Daily Mail reported that Bryan brought DeSantis onstage during a concert that he was holding to raise money for Hurricane Ian relief efforts. Liberals were furious that Bryan dared to bring the Republican onstage, with some going so far as to say that they would boycott the upcoming CMA Awards, which the “American Idol” judge is set to co-host. 

Despite the backlash, however, Bryan refused to back down. 

“Here’s the deal,” Bryan said in a statement posted to social media. “I understand Governor DeSantis is a very polarizing figure. I grew up in a country where if a governor asks you if they can come and raise awareness to help victims of a natural disaster you help.”

“I’ve generally stayed out of politics throughout my career,” he added. “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.”

“Raise awareness, have a little fun between the GA and FL college fans before the game and do what I love on stage,” Bryan concluded. “This is all I am saying about this. I’ll be outdoors with my boys. Enjoy your Sunday. Love y’all #GoDawgs.”

pic.twitter.com/edKiDb49ir

— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) October 30, 2022

Related: Watch Carrie Underwood’s Very Telling Response When Luke Bryan Mocks Aaron Rodgers At CMA Awards

Bryan Brings DeSantis Onstage

This came after video went viral showing Bryan bringing DeSantis onstage during his concert on Friday, with the country music star saying that he will be donating all the proceeds from an upcoming rescheduled show in Estero to the governor’s Florida Disaster Fund, which has already raised over $50 million.

“Because of the hurricane they had to use the venue that I was performing in as a shelter,” Bryan said as DeSantis stood next to him. “Well, we’ve been going back and forth. We didn’t know if it was too soon to play or not but the area of Estero said ‘get your a** to Estero.'”

“So, we’re doing a concert,” he continued. “What we’re going to do is give a large portion of the proceeds in Estero, Florida… to everybody that’s bought tickets, kept the ticket, and spending the money. I’m donating that money to the great state of Florida.”

DeSantis then briefly spoke to the crowd from the stage.

“The state of Florida had to deal with the major hurricane last month and it’s not easy to deal with, it’s hurt a lot of people,” he said. “I can tell you this, show me any other state that can rebuild bridges in three days. I don’t think you can find that.”

Thanks for letting me crash the party last night, @lukebryan! pic.twitter.com/GCuTELFOM9

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) October 29, 2022

Related: Tim Tebow Pranks Luke Bryan’s Wife With Smashed Heisman Trophy

Bryan Hit With Backlash

Though DeSantis’ appearance at Bryan’s concert wasn’t political in nature, liberals still lost their minds over it: 

Luke Bryan, so disappointed you brought Ron Desantis on stage at your concert. So many LGBTQ+ kids audition/ look to you as a model on AI. He is exactly NOT that.

— CAT,DO 😷 (@ClareSail) October 29, 2022

Hey Luke Bryan – if you don’t want to be seen as political, don’t bring a psychotically deranged human trafficking child torturing right wing extremist like Ron DeSantis on stage during your concert.

— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) October 30, 2022

Can you imagine being so supportive of homophobia, transphobia, control of women, abuse of immigrants, and suppression of voters that you use your privilege and platform to bring Ron DeSantis out on stage like some damn hero?@lukebryan can.

— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) October 30, 2022

Apparently Luke Bryan is too stupid to realize that his boss at American Idol is Disney, the company that Ron DeSantis has attempted destroy.

— ☆ Steve Levine ☆ (@SteveLevine1) October 30, 2022

Wow. I did like @lukebryan but this puts him in another light. This is not a political decision for me, it’s about supporting people who are doing good things for the most people. Supporting a destructive person like @GovRonDeSantis is pure ignorance. No thank you. 😡 https://t.co/I33uagCOcx

— Jerry Newman (@simpleoklahoma) October 29, 2022

It’s sad that liberals are trying to cancel Bryan for simply bringing a Republican onstage to raise money for hurricane relief efforts. This just goes to show once again how closed-minded the modern left really is, and we applaud Bryan for refusing to back down to them.