Twitter is coming for Luke Bryan.
And no, not for his music (at least not this time).
Luke was in Jacksonville, Florida this weekend, just weeks after he was forced to reschedule three Florida shows when the suffered massive damage from Hurricane Ian.
And before the show started, Luke took to the stage solo to address the crowd:
“We typically do not start a concert with me walking out here. We like to be a little more creative than that.
But as you guys know, a couple of weeks ago, the state of Florida was hit with a tragic hurricane event and we’ve been thinking about the state of Florida, and we’re going to have some fun and we’re going to raise some money tonight for the great state of Florida.”
Luke then surprised the crowd with a special guest: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
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
The governor took the stage to thunderous applause, tossing out caps to the crowd and welcoming concertgoers to “the free state of Florida” before bantering with Luke and the crowd about the upcoming Florida-Georgia game (which Luke’s Georgia Bulldogs ultimately won 42-20).
Luke then went on tell the crowd that the proceeds from his upcoming show in Estero, Florida, which was rescheduled to November 2 after the town was hit hard by Hurricane Ian and the arena was turned into an emergency shelter, would be donated to the state’s hurricane relief fund.
@kati_lovinlb Luke Bryan gave Governor DeSantis a Georgia Bulldogs jersey after bringing him out tonight in Jacksonville ❤🖤 #lukebryan #jacksonvilleflorida #georgiabulldogs #desantis #vystararena #raiseduprighttour #godawgs @lukebryan ♬ original sound – Kati
Luke then used the opportunity to take a friendly jab at DeSantis’s Florida Gators, presenting the governor with a Georgia Bulldogs jersey.
Thanks for letting me crash the party last night, @lukebryan! pic.twitter.com/GCuTELFOM9
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) October 29, 2022
Overall the crowd seemed fired up and appeared to enjoy the appearance from their governor.
But Twitter, on the other hand…
As video from the DeSantis appearance began to circulate, many on the left took to Twitter to “cancel” Luke Bryan for allowing DeSantis onstage – and some even trying to get him removed from his spot as a judge on American Idol and the host of the upcoming CMA Awards.
So Luke Bryan admits he hates women, LGBTQ people and immigrants. https://t.co/nFEdrORb4R
— amanda (@AmandaK982) October 29, 2022
And Luke Bryan just got crossed off the playlist. https://t.co/pZArfOE4vA
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) October 29, 2022
Damn, Luke Bryan 😔
I know I shouldn’t be shocked but as a lifelong fan I can’t help but be utterly disappointed.
As a gay man, it truly hurts seeing him bring out – and effectively campaign for – the governor who introduced the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Heartbreaking 💔— Callum Edwards (@CallumEdwardsUK) October 29, 2022
Yo Luke Bryan, you can raise money for hurricane victims without bringing out a politician who trafficked humans as a publicity stunt and is writing laws sure to kill women in addition to jailing them for life for medical choices
— Tracie – (@tracieTweetsTv) October 30, 2022
So @lukebryan the host of the @CountryMusic awards supports the guy who passed a law that says we can’t say gay, regularly discriminates against the LGBTQ+ community, burns books, and forces children to give birth to their rapist’s baby. How does the CMA feel about this?
— TrueBlueAmerican (@Pete4America) October 29, 2022
Hey @AmericanIdol did you know you had a singing judge, Luke Bryan, who supports a racist and homophobic on your show. If you continue to have him on the show you will lose my viewership. Disgusting! https://t.co/I1j4LsgO84
— DonyaRina 🗽 (@ItsChaosB_Kind) October 30, 2022
I mean this with as much disrespect as I can possibly muster, go fuck yourself Luke Bryan. You’re a sell out, a poser, and the antithesis of what country music was founded on. Johnny Cash would have despised you. https://t.co/ssMAhxCd4j
— The Artist Formerly Known as Lauren (@LPC_1992) October 30, 2022
That's the sound of every LGBTQ person who was a fan of Luke Bryan exiting. Cancelled. https://t.co/y07WpedXEP
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) October 30, 2022
I don’t know if Luke Bryan is a Nazi
But I do know Bryan would be silent if Nazi flags were waved at his concerts
— Jonathan Jewel 🌊🌊 (@jonathanjewel) October 29, 2022
@AmericanIdol I won’t be watching American idol as long as you have Luke Bryan as a judge. Anyone who supports anti-lgbtq, anti-immigrant, human trafficking, nazi loving, fascists like Desantis doesn’t deserve our support.
— ✨✨Linda✨✨☮️ 🌈 (@Lindas_Here) October 30, 2022
Of course, not everybody was upset about the governor’s appearance, with many on the right praising Bryan and DeSantis:
@lukebryan and @GovRonDeSantis on stage together
Two great American patriots pic.twitter.com/LWQviVHQc1
— Make L.A Great Again 🇺🇸 – VOTE CARUSO (@lalovestrump) October 29, 2022
Luke Bryan brought DeSantis on stage.
Listen to that CROWD 🇺🇸🔥
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 30, 2022
might have to start listening to Luke Bryan https://t.co/ld7vC4kPFW
— R&R Cigars (@RandRCigars) October 30, 2022
Love this! Love seeing Luke is a patriot🇺🇸 https://t.co/cZovWd31UA
— Mary Hale-McCoy (@halemaryTN) October 30, 2022
My Governor..😎👍🇺🇸 https://t.co/D2CjMdxtlz
— Michael Hustus (@HustusMichael) October 29, 2022
Oh, Twitter… always a cesspool that I just can’t seem to bring myself to leave.
