Ronnie Winter, the piercing-eyed frontman of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, has never been one to mince words. This week, he dropped a social-media bombshell—Trump voters need not apply when the band hits the stage. In a tightly composed Instagram video, Winter offered a blunt “quick PSA” that left no room for confusion on where he stands when it comes to Trump and those that support him:
“If you voted for Donald Trump, do not come to my shows — forever, not just like these four years. If you’re Christian and you voted for Donald Trump, shame on you. You are not allowed to come to my shows. I don’t want you there. Don’t come to my shows.”“I think for myself. Why don’t you try that? Don’t follow an entertainer. Don’t follow me. Don’t do what I do. Don’t change your beliefs because of me. If I happen to believe the same way that you do, that’s cool. If I happen to believe different than you then, that’s cool too. And the reason I don’t want you at my shows is because you’re mean to the other people.
To the people that you marginalize and take advantage of. And then you want to walk in my show when they’re there and act like you’re cool. That’s fake. Well I put an album out called “Don’t You Fake It“, and you’re faking it. You’re coming to my shows and you’re acting like you’re cool with it. But you’re just taking the MAGA hat off before you come inside, so what I’m telling you to keep it on, keep your hat on.”
I don’t hate people who like Donald Trump. I just ask you not to come to my shows, because I’m protecting my real fans. I have real fans. Every single one of you who have said something negative about me was never a real fan of mine. You definitely believe that lie yourself. You have sold yourself a story that is not true and I’m here to wake you up from that delusion. You were never my fan. You never liked my music, it was just cool and popular. Okay? But it’s not anymore. I’m not cool and popular anymore.
So you should go listen to some MAGA music. ‘Cause instead of being all pumped up and mad at me, you can go around blasting your MAGA music — Kid Rock — really loud and you can get hyped and you can be yourself at that show, alright? You belong at a Kid Rock concert… I heard he’s awesome live. I don’t think it would be a bad show, entertainment wise.”
The full video can be watched below. The comments section was disabled, but not before the clip sparked a fierce backlash from Trump supporters. Some branded Winter’s stance “fascist rhetoric,” while others vowed protests at upcoming show stops. One even pledged to stand front-row brandishing an “I VOTED FOR TRUMP” sign.
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