Country music icon Garth Brooks is keen to establish a welcoming ambiance at his soon-to-open bar, which includes featuring Bud Light on the menu.
In a recent discussion with Billboard, Brooks unveiled plans for his new watering hole and performance venue, Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk, located in the South Broadway District of Nashville.
He expressed a desire for his venue to promote a sense of security, friendliness, and civility. “I envision it as a haven where patrons can enjoy a convivial atmosphere and mutual respect,” said Brooks.
With a pointed reference to the recent storm of protest against Bud Light, one of America’s best-selling beers, he announced, “We have every intention of serving all kinds of beers. It’s not our call to make.”
Continuing, Brooks emphasized the bar’s welcoming ethos, stating, “Our principle is simple – if you enter this establishment, treat everyone with kindness. For anyone incapable of this, there are numerous other establishments on lower Broadway.”
Earlier this year, a social media sponsorship deal between Bud Light and trans influencer and activist Dylan Mulvaney on Instagram sparked a wave of controversy, resulting in threats against parent company Anheuser-Busch and negative attention from conservative media outlets.
In stark contrast to Brooks, fellow musician Kid Rock publicly denounced Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch. This was seen when he used Bud Light cans as shooting targets in a social media video, following it up with a profanity-laden tirade against the beer and the company.
Furthermore, Anheuser-Busch has also faced criticism from pro-trans activists due to its handling of the controversy. Initially, the company provided a direct explanation of its association with Mulvaney. However, a subsequent unclear statement by the company’s CEO neither showed support for Mulvaney nor the trans community.
In the wake of this controversy, Bud Light saw a dip in sales, and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation removed a high-ranking LGBTQ+ equality rating from the company last month.
