Country music icon Garth Brooks is charting his own course amidst the growing controversy surrounding Bud Light’s support for transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney.
While other country artists, such as John Rich and Kid Rock, have taken a stand against the beverage, Brooks is pursuing his own venture, a bar called Friends in Low Places, located on Nashville’s Broadway.
In an interview with Billboard, Brooks discussed his vision for the bar, expressing his desire for it to be the “Chick-fil-A of honky-tonks.”
He envisions it as a place where patrons feel safe, where manners prevail, and where people genuinely like each other.
Despite the ongoing boycott of Bud Light, Brooks is adamant about serving every brand of beer.
He believes that if individuals enter his establishment, they should treat one another with love and respect.
However, for those who fail to do so, Brooks suggests there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway that may better suit their taste.
Brooks emphasized that his decision to include Bud Light is not solely driven by the current boycott but rather by his desire to create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
He acknowledges that the actions of a single individual can significantly impact the atmosphere of a place, and his goal is to establish a venue where patrons feel safe and comfortable.
Although Friends in Low Places is yet to open its doors, Brooks jokingly mentioned that the bills for the establishment are already making a strong presence.
While Brooks is willing to offer Bud Light at his bar, recent data indicates a decline in the beer’s sales.
According to NielsenIQ data provided by Bump Williams Consulting, Bud Light sales were down 23.9 percent from the previous year in the week ending May 27.
Furthermore, sales for the four weeks ending with May 27 were down 24.5 percent.
Actor Kirk Cameron, known for his role in the TV sitcom “Growing Pains,” offered a word of advice to Bud Light.
He stressed the importance of never betraying one’s audience and cited his family, country, and God as his own priorities.
Cameron emphasized the significance of trust and stated that those who uphold it ultimately succeed, while trust breakers lose out in the end.
