Avondale Brewing Co. in Birmingham, Alabama, has cancelled a scheduled concert by rock musician Ted Nugent after intense criticism and threats of boycotts. Nugent, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and an advocate for gun ownership rights, has been accused of bigotry and of making comments critical of gun safety measures, as well as transphobic and homophobic remarks. Fans threatened to stop patronising the brewery, where Nugent was due to perform on July 18, and Birmingham residents took to social media to condemn Nugent’s views and the venue’s decision to book the artist.
The Brewery initially responded by saying they did not endorse Nugent’s views but believed in giving artists the opportunity to perform. However, the organisers later cancelled the concert due to concerns from the Avondale community. Nugent’s supporters responded on social media with posts about 400 comments shared on Nugent’s Facebook page and more than 500 on Twitter. Nugent has previously performed in Alabama with little controversy, but opposition to this summer’s show was more vocal on social media.
Nugent is known for his pro-gun views and offensive comments, including calling Black Lives Matter a “terrorist organisation” and making derogatory remarks about survivors of the Parkland school shooting. He is also an outdoorsman and a hunter with a history of making divisive statements. Last month, he announced his “Adios Mofo” farewell tour, citing difficulty in organising the logistics of touring with family members and dogs.
Despite issuing an apology for some of his past comments, Nugent’s career has faced growing backlash for his controversial views. Many fans have turned against him for comments he made that labelled Barack Obama a “subhuman mongrel”, and for his stance on gun control and refusal to take the Covid-19 vaccine. Nugent is an outspoken conservative and a supporter of hunting and gun ownership rights, with around 3.7 million Facebook followers, 660,000 Twitter followers, and 474,000 Instagram followers.
Nugent’s agents issued a statement saying they were considering a legal challenge to the cancellation, but as of yet, no legal action has been taken. This is not the first time Nugent’s concerts have faced controversy and been cancelled. In 2014, the musician had a performance cancelled by a Native American tribe due to his “racist and hate-filled remarks”. Nugent was an advocate for former President Donald Trump and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2019.
The cancellation of Nugent’s concert highlights the growing concerns among musicians, venues, and fans about the use of public platforms to promote views that demean and offend audiences. As diverse communities continue to push for greater representation, inclusion and tolerance, musicians and venues will need to be increasingly careful when booking and promoting acts that have a history of making controversial and offensive statements. While Nugent has a loyal following, it is clear that his controversial views have had an impact on his career and the businesses that choose to associate with him.
