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Garth Brooks remains defiant about serving Bud Light at his bar amid anti-trans backlash: 'Our differences are our greatest strengths'

Jun 16, 2023, 19:21 IST
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Garth Brooks.Getty/Jason Kempin
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Garth Brooks remains defiant amid conservative backlash over his decision to serve Bud Light at his new bar.

The country singer said last week that his Nashville bar, named Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk, would sell the beer, which has been subject to a widespread boycott because of its recent collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Brooks' decision has angered some of his more conservative fans, some of whom urged a boycott of the star online.

"We don't put up with that, you know why? We're Americans, bro," said one TikToker. "We fight for what's right. We fight for what's true. We don't cater to mental illness. No. Garth Brooks, go hide under a rock. You're irrelevant. Not worth a word anymore. You know what? I don't listen to any of your songs anymore."

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, the country star was unfazed about the criticism he has received over the last week.

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"I think if you know Garth Brooks, no matter how long you've known him, always been inclusive," Brooks said. "We're gonna need each other, trust me."

"So I think that diversity, inclusiveness, I think what you find is our differences are our greatest strengths," Brooks added.

Dylan Mulvaney.Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Mulvaney, 26, posted a video to her Instagram in April in which she said Bud Light had sent her a can of the beer with her face on.

Bud Light said the can was a gift to Mulvaney to celebrate her "milestone" after a year of identifying as a woman.

Mulvaney was subsequently subjected to a barrage of anti-trans hate, and Bud Light faced a boycott. Musician Kid Rock even filmed himself shooting several cases of the beer to show his disdain for the partnership.

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In May, sales of the beer had dropped by nearly 25%.

Discussing the abuse she received during a podcast appearance in April, Mulvaney, who also boasts a partnership with Nike, called herself an "easy target."

"I think it comes back to the fact that these people, they don't understand me, and anything that I do or say somehow gets taken out of context and is used against me," she said.

"It's so sad because everything I try to put out is positive. It's trying to connect with others that maybe don't understand me. It's to make people laugh, or to make a kid feel seen."

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