Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis is taking his criticism of Jelly Roll to another level, declaring that the country singer is no longer welcome in Florida’s Panhandle following his recent remarks about President Donald Trump.
What began as political jokes during Jelly Roll’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! has quickly turned into a much bigger controversy, with the singer facing backlash from some conservative fans and political figures.
Patronis isn’t backing down.
“I don’t want to see his tour bus anywhere around the region. He made a horrible mistake by going woke and criticizing someone who’s working hard for our country,” Patronis said.
The congressman went even further, making it clear that he doesn’t believe Jelly Roll should expect a warm welcome from Florida fans after taking shots at Trump.
“Jelly Roll has made his position clear, and now we’re making ours clear,” Patronis said. “If he wants to attack President Trump, he can do it somewhere else. He won’t be doing it here.”
The dispute stems from Jelly Roll’s recent stint as guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he made several jokes about Trump and his appearance at a recent event. Jelly Roll’s comments quickly spread online, prompting criticism from people who felt the singer had crossed a line.
Jelly Roll has pushed back against the criticism, making it clear that he isn’t interested in apologizing simply because some fans disagree with his political views. He has also explained that he doesn’t consider himself strictly liberal or conservative.
But Patronis apparently isn’t buying it.
“He can make all the jokes he wants in Hollywood, but he’s not bringing that garbage into the Panhandle,” Patronis reportedly said. “We’ve got enough people down here who actually respect the president.”
The remarks have now raised questions about what could happen to Jelly Roll’s upcoming Florida appearances. His concerts have attracted large crowds across the country, and Florida has traditionally been an important market for major touring country artists.
Some critics of the singer are already calling for fans to boycott his shows, while Jelly Roll’s supporters argue that a musician shouldn’t have to remain silent simply to protect ticket sales.
The financial consequences could also be significant.
Apparently, if Jelly Roll’s Florida tour is canceled, it could cost him about 70% of his ticket sales, depending on how heavily the state factors into his current touring schedule.
For now, there is no indication that Jelly Roll is backing away from his comments. Instead, the controversy appears to be growing by the day.
What started with a few jokes on late-night television has now turned into a political showdown involving a country superstar, a Florida congressman and an increasingly divided fan base.
And if Patronis gets his way, Jelly Roll may soon discover that some places are a lot less interested in hearing his political jokes than others.