Jelly Roll's "Dumb Redneck" Defense May Not Be as Foolproof as He Thinks
The country singer and rapper was quick to dismiss any expectation of him weighing in on Donald Trump's immigration policies, citing his own limited knowledge of politics. "I know more than a few dumb rednecks," he quipped backstage at the Grammys, suggesting that not everyone is aware of the intricacies of policy.
However, this deflection rings hollow given the country music genre's long-standing conservative leanings and the lack of reflection from many artists in Nashville during Trump's presidency. The emphasis on jingoistic anthems and patriotism post-9/11 has left a lasting impact on the genre.
In an environment where it's almost assumed that any new artist is leaning conservative, Jelly Roll's ambivalence feels like a convenient dodge. It would be wise for him to walk the red carpet with a more nuanced approach, especially considering his fanbase likely includes many MAGA die-hards and conservatives alike.
Despite his claim of being oblivious to politics until his mid-20s in jail, it's hard to believe that Jelly Roll genuinely holds no opinion on the subject. The recent past provides ample evidence that making impromptu remarks can backfire for musicians. Chappell Roan faced online harassment after refusing to endorse Kamala Harris, and Jack Antonoff's attempt at performingative 'activism' with an anti-ICE pin only earned ridicule from social media users.
The average American is not exactly a political newshound, with record numbers pledging allegiance to neither party and a significant portion never voting in presidential elections. The "shut up and sing" cohort might be perceived as the wrong message, but imagine being on the receiving end of criticism for getting it wrong.
Jelly Roll's defense may not be the foolproof move he thinks it is. He needs to consider how his words can affect his fanbase and navigate a more nuanced approach to politics, lest he find himself in a similar situation as Chappell Roan or Jack Antonoff.
The country singer and rapper was quick to dismiss any expectation of him weighing in on Donald Trump's immigration policies, citing his own limited knowledge of politics. "I know more than a few dumb rednecks," he quipped backstage at the Grammys, suggesting that not everyone is aware of the intricacies of policy.
However, this deflection rings hollow given the country music genre's long-standing conservative leanings and the lack of reflection from many artists in Nashville during Trump's presidency. The emphasis on jingoistic anthems and patriotism post-9/11 has left a lasting impact on the genre.
In an environment where it's almost assumed that any new artist is leaning conservative, Jelly Roll's ambivalence feels like a convenient dodge. It would be wise for him to walk the red carpet with a more nuanced approach, especially considering his fanbase likely includes many MAGA die-hards and conservatives alike.
Despite his claim of being oblivious to politics until his mid-20s in jail, it's hard to believe that Jelly Roll genuinely holds no opinion on the subject. The recent past provides ample evidence that making impromptu remarks can backfire for musicians. Chappell Roan faced online harassment after refusing to endorse Kamala Harris, and Jack Antonoff's attempt at performingative 'activism' with an anti-ICE pin only earned ridicule from social media users.
The average American is not exactly a political newshound, with record numbers pledging allegiance to neither party and a significant portion never voting in presidential elections. The "shut up and sing" cohort might be perceived as the wrong message, but imagine being on the receiving end of criticism for getting it wrong.
Jelly Roll's defense may not be the foolproof move he thinks it is. He needs to consider how his words can affect his fanbase and navigate a more nuanced approach to politics, lest he find himself in a similar situation as Chappell Roan or Jack Antonoff.
i mean like yeah ppl r dumb but is it really cool to kinda diss ppl who might think differently from u? and isnt his fanbase like super into trump kinda already 
i feel like he shouldve just kept quiet instead of saying all that cuz now he's probs gonna get flamed online 
what even is the point of being a celebrity if u cant even handle getting criticized for ur opinions lol
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. Chappell Roan and Jack Antonoff both had similar experiences with social media backlash when they tried to take a more nuanced approach to politics. It's like, we get it, you're trying to be cool and not alienate your fans, but sometimes less is more 
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It doesn't feel very authentic, especially with his own fanbase being a mix of Trump supporters and conservatives. I mean, we've seen what happens when artists try to be all about 'activism'... Chappell Roan and Jack Antonoff got roasted online for it! So yeah, Jelly Roll needs to think harder about how he approaches this. Maybe just stay mum and let his music speak for itself? 
. It's like, he's got a huge following in MAGA country and then he just kinda... dodges the conversation? It's not like he can just pretend to be a expert on immigration policies, especially since many of his fans might already have strong opinions on the matter 
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. And if he's not really aware of politics until now (and that's a big if 
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i mean i get it, music is supposed to be uplifting but come on, the world ain't just about trucks and beer. and jelly roll's trying to play dumb, like that's gonna fly? btw have you seen those retrofitted school buses from back in the day? they were straight fire 
... like, come on man, you're quick to diss people who don't know much about politics but then act like you're above it all? 
like jelly roll thinks a quick joke about dumb rednecks solves every thing 
or at least not pretend he's above the fray 
. But let's be real, his fanbase is probably already super into Trump and MAGA, so now he's got some 'splainin' to do 
, and that number's still pretty high. He needs to be more considerate with his words, or risk getting roasted online 
. I mean, his fanbase is likely super conservative, but that doesn't mean he can't have an opinion on immigration or politics... or at least be honest about not knowing a thing 
... we all kinda see right through that. Anyway, I think he needs to own up to his thoughts and opinions on this stuff instead of dodging it behind a joke 
plus his whole thing is bein all edgy and whatnot, so he gotta have an opinion or two on somethin