Jelly Roll has reportedly been replaced by Kid Rock for an upcoming Blue Lives Matter fundraiser following the controversy surrounding his recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The singer was originally expected to perform at the event, but organizers allegedly changed their plans after Jelly Roll made several jokes about President Donald Trump during his guest-hosting stint on the late-night program.
The decision marks another setback for Jelly Roll, whose recent comments have sparked backlash among some country music fans and conservative audiences. What organizers initially expected to be a strong addition to the fundraiser has now turned into another controversy surrounding the singer.
Alex Bruno, the event manager, said organizers believed Jelly Roll would be a good fit when they initially invited him.
“We invited Jelly Roll because we thought he was going to be the right fit, but after his Kimmel appearance, we realized that we made a huge mistake,” Bruno said.
According to Bruno, the event organizers began reconsidering the decision after watching Jelly Roll’s comments and seeing the reaction that followed.
“We wanted someone who genuinely understands the audience and what this event stands for,” Bruno said. “After everything that happened, we felt that Kid Rock was a much better choice.”
Kid Rock will reportedly take Jelly Roll’s place at the fundraiser, giving organizers an opportunity to move forward without the political controversy that had surrounded the original booking.
“Contrary to Jelly, Kid Rock understands the audience and what this event stands for,” Bruno said. “We believe he’s the perfect fit for this.”
The choice of Kid Rock is unlikely to surprise fans familiar with his outspoken political views. The singer has frequently expressed support for conservative causes and has developed a reputation for being comfortable performing at politically themed events.
Bruno said that made Kid Rock an obvious replacement.
“We needed someone who could walk onto that stage and immediately understand why everyone was there,” Bruno said. “Kid Rock doesn’t need an explanation. He knows the audience, he knows the message and he knows how to connect with them.”
Jelly Roll’s controversy began after his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he made jokes about Trump and discussed his political views. While Jelly Roll later explained that he considers himself somewhere around the middle politically, his comments nevertheless triggered strong reactions from some of his fans.
Critics have accused the singer of moving away from the country audience that helped make him successful, while his supporters argue that he should be free to express his personal opinions.
For the fundraiser organizers, however, the decision was reportedly straightforward.
“Mr. Jelly made his choice, and we made ours,” Bruno said.
The change means Kid Rock will now take the stage at the event instead of Jelly Roll, potentially turning what could have been an awkward appearance into a much more politically aligned performance.
Whether Jelly Roll’s recent controversy will continue affecting his other bookings remains to be seen. But for this fundraiser, organizers have apparently decided that Kid Rock is the artist they want representing the event.
And according to Bruno, they have no regrets about making the switch.