Garth Brooks confuses fans with Sanders jersey: ‘I wish you’d keep your political preferences to yourself’
Many took Brooks’s garment to be a reference to Bernie Sanders
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Your support makes all the difference.Garth Brooks caused confusion among his fans by wearing a Sanders jersey during a recent gig.
The country singer shared a photo of himself on social media to mark a performance in Detroit, Michigan. In the photo, he wears a number 20 jersey with the name “Sanders” on it.
Many took it to be a reference to Bernie Sanders, the 2020 presidential hopeful, but it appears the jersey was actually meant as a reference to Barry Sanders, a former NFL player with the Detroit Lions.
According to MLive.com, the crowd at Brooks’s concert got the reference and at one point chanted: “Barry! Barry! Barry!”
“I’ll tell you why I’m wearing the jersey I am wearing tonight,” Brooks said. “I was lucky enough to be an athlete and to wear the same uniform as this guy wore in college. I was lucky to go to school with him. You guys got the greatest player in NFL history in my opinion in this jersey. I love this man.”
For those who weren’t at the concert, however, the reference wasn’t as clear – and many have criticised Brooks’s jersey on social media, asking him to refrain from making political statements.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Garth Brooks (@garthbrooks) on
“I wish you would’ve kept your political preferences to yourself. Peace out,” reads one comment on Brooks’s Instagram profile.
“If this is for Bernie Sanders, I’m done with you. I thought you were a true American that loves our country?” another person wrote.
“Good grief. Can’t you just do what you get paid to do ???? Why why why does it have to involve politics !!!” someone else commented. ”So sad. We don’t pay good money for anything other than to watch you perform. Thought you were different.”
About three years ago, Brooks explained in a video shared on his Facebook profile why he didn’t perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration after being asked to.
He said ticket sales for shows in Cincinnati prevented him from doing so at the time.
“But I’m gonna tell you, with this whole presidential thing, we’ve got one going out – pray for him and his family,” he said about the Obamas.
He added of Donald Trump: “And for the president going in, pray for him and his family to guide this nation. Let’s stay together. Love, unity, that’s what it’s all about.
“...Can’t thank the Obamas enough for serving this country, and may God hold Trump’s hand in the decisions that he makes in this country’s name as well.”
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