Country singer Travis Tritt has sparked controversy after he canceled four tour dates at venues enforcing COVID-19 safety precautions. Tritt confirmed the cancellations in a statement to Billboard on Wednesday, telling the outlet that while he is “not against the vaccine,” he is “against forcing people to take medicine that they may not need and may not want.” The four canceled concerts had been at venues in states requiring either mask-wearing, a negative Covid-19 test result, or proof of vaccination.
The cancellations – affecting previously scheduled shows in Muncie, Indiana on Oct. 23, Philadelphia, Mississippi on November 6, Peoria, Illinois on Nov 11, and Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 13 – were first announced on Tritt’s official website. Tritt said he was “putting my money where my mouth is and announcing” by immediately canceling any shows at venues that “discriminates against concert-goers by requiring proof of vaccination, a COVID test, or a mask.” Tritt noted that he has “been extremely vocal against mandates since the beginning” and the cancellations are “a sacrifice that I’m willing to make to stand up for the freedoms that generations of Americans have enjoyed for their entire lifetimes.” Further opening up about the decision with Billboard, the musician said he is “not against the vaccine,” but he is “against forcing people to take medicine that they may not need and may not want,” adding, “I totally disagree with any mandate that would force people to go against their better judgement or would attack their personal freedoms.”
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The cancellations quickly sparked discussion on social media, with many fans expressing their disappointment over the canceled stops as others expressed their grief over Tritt’s reasoning for the canceled shows. Acknowledging the reaction, Tritt said he “got literally hundreds of comments and direct messages from people on all social media platforms, which basically told me how disappointed they were,” something he said was “heartbreaking.” Keep scrolling to see how country music fans reacted to the news.
‘Do better’
“Asking for proof of a negative covid test is not forcing anyone to take medicine,” tweeted one person. “Do better, Travis.”
Concerts could ’cause an outbreak’
“I guess you choose to not to go to places that require you to wear a seatbelt? And I guess you chose to not go to school growing up, because they require vaccines. And I guess you choose to not stop at red lights, as they are designed to keep you and other drivers safe,” wrote another person, who went on to note, “Lots of laws and mandates that are made to keep you and other people safe, because the government (and everyone else) knows there are those that would do stupid stuff and risk the lives of others if those laws and mandates were not in place.”
‘Disregard for public health efforts’
“Your disregard for public health efforts to fight the spread of Covid has not only resulted in ‘a hit in the pocketbook,’” shared somebody else. “To many, including me, you’ve taken a hit in loss of respect. Love your music, but you’re totally on the wrong side of this.”
Former fans
“This is not a personal freedom issue but a public health issue,” added another. “You are condemning those who are immune compromised to a permanent quarantine. I won’t attend any concerts where public health is not protected. I WAS a fan.”
‘Heartless’
“The [CDC] thr [White House] and [POTUS] are not promoting fear. They are promoting safety,” noted a fan. “I have enjoyed your music in the past, but as someone who is Immunocompromised I would never be able to attend one of your shows without risk to my life. Don’t I matter as a fan?Heartless.”
‘Science and health’
“Travis, I’ve been to several of your shows and enjoyed myself at them. But respectfully, you don’t know the first thing about virology, immunology, or pandemics,” commented somebody else. “As for ‘fear-mongering,’ I’d suggest the real fear-mongering is about the vaccines, which are safe.”
Blocked
“Personally, I won’t let anyone into my films at the theater unless they prove they are blocked by Travis Tritt,” joked one person in response to the influx of people learning they were blocked by Tritt amid the controversy. “It’s the new vaccine card.”
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