Monday, October 29, 2007

IDIOT FROM BIG & RICH APOLOGIZES FOR BEING A BOOB... SAYS HIS DAD AND MINISTER TAUGHT HIM BIGOTRY BUT HE'S SORRY AND PLEASE DON'T STOP BUYING HIS CDS

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Please, no more hypocritical Republican morality sermons from John Rich

A friend of mine who works with Big & Rich at Warner Bros, and who felt "devastated" by John Rich's homophobic and hypocritical smearing of gay families last week, just sent me the canned, damage-control statement the p.r. department wrote for him:
"My earlier comments on same-sex marriage don't reflect my full views on the broader issues regarding tolerance and the treatment of gays and lesbians in our society. I apologize for that and wish to state clearly my views. I oppose same-sex marriage because my father and minister brought me up to believe that marriage is an institution for the union of a man and a woman. However, I also believe that intolerance, bigotry and hatred are wrong. People should be judged based on their merits, not on their sexual orientation. We are all children of God and should be valued and respected."

I went back to some of the gay employees who seemed most hurt by his vituperative explosion of bigotry last week. Not a single one felt the apology was sincere, although they were all hopeful that the scare he got, which they felt made him issue it, might make him think a little harder next time he decides to express bigotry and hatred towards the people who have helped him build a career.

One gay man with a family told me, "You can't apologize after you say shit like that... what he originally said was how he really feels... I hope this will make him think it through more. I hope so."

Another WB employee, who has considered himself a personal friend of John Rich's, and said he felt not just "hurt" but also "betrayed," is glad Rich issued the "clarification." Still, he feels it "is disappointing to see such continued prejudice against gays and lesbians in this day and age. If bigotry and hatred are wrong then why would you prevent two adults who love each other and are willing to proclaim that love in public for their friends and family? As a person who's been in a stable, loving relationship for 12 years now (including both domestic partnership and public ceremony) and someone who has been working in support of Big & Rich professionally, I find it offensive that Mr. Rich has decided to make such a personal decision for me. Please mind your own business. In the words of the Dixie Chicks, 'Shut Up And Sing.'"

This guy works out in the field and is openly gay and has worked really hard to prove he could be the best in his field. I hired him many years ago and I saw how he grew and grew into an incredibly productive and dedicated part of a team. People have success at Warner Bros because of men and women like this guy. In the music business you don't succeed without a good song. And you don't succeed without a dedicated team behind you, getting your music into stores and magazines, on TV and radio. Big & Rich had a very devoted team behind them but Rich decided he's big enough now so that he doesn't think he needs them any more. Let's wait and see what happens.


UPDATE: A FAN SPEAKS OUT

Matthew Grant in Nashville likes Big & Rich's music. He says he "loves America, beer, his church and country music." And he's gay. Today's Tennessean published his letter to the editor asking John Rich to consider the impact his words of hatred have on the psyches of young people. He said it well:
There are a thousand young boys and girls who are fans of his, sitting in a room feeling so bad about themselves because they have feelings for the same sex that they do not understand or want. They get called a slur on the school bus and now, one of their favorite singers just said that they are "unnatural."

I would love to share with Mr. Rich the statistics of GLBT young people who kill themselves due to feeling "unnatural" and that there is no hope for them-- and of people who murder, "taught" to hate because of a statement that someone they knew or looked up to fed to them.

If you know of Big & Rich, their whole schtick is "Love Everybody." All we want is understanding and human rights.

As Mr. Rich counts his newfound money, he understands the power of his uneducated words as they leave his mouth and reach the ears and hearts of people who once looked up to him.

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7 Comments:

At 6:47 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who are "Big and Rich" and are they big and rich? (Another one of the my gaps in pop culture knowledge...)

 
At 2:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ya know, when I was growing up my parents never told me that marriage was between a man and a women. Does that mean they weren't good parents? I do remember them telling me that what other people did that didn't affect me was none of my business.

 
At 9:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Discrimination is a fact of life. Not everyone is going to love everybody. It is worse in some countries than others. It probably does not serve one well to have their emotional state being conducted or controlled by another person. Responsibility for ones emotions is key.
By the way nice hot babes!!
Huge Teen Tits

 
At 9:46 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Reading the comments John Rich made regarding his conservative opinions, I am stunned. This man has mad a lot of money from fans who are, in fact, gays and lesbians. The apology issued was one written by the PR Team from the record label and for typical CYA purpose. I have always been a huge Big and Rich fan but now find myself doubting my personal tastes. It is time for people to stop taking advantage of their places in life... Stop cramming their "morals, values and ethics" down everyone's throat. And, if the stories from the road are true, John Rich should be asking for forgiveness due to his unsavory actions towards women. No matter how alcohol infused a person becomes, the chasing of another person for pure sexual gratification is unacceptable and inappropriate behavior. If his father is still a minister, perhaps it is time for him to retire from the pulpit. There is enough negativity in this world. We do not need to have it continually drilled into our heads who is good and who is evil. Perhaps Mr. Rich will understand where he went wrong if Nashville and the Big and Rich fans truly turned their backs on him as he has done to other innocent people. Allowing this hatred cannot be tolerated nor excused. And to think of the impressionable young people who attend their concerts. I feel for Big Kenny and his family. If they truly do not share John Rich's opinions, it is they who are being hurt the most. Perhaps it is time for John to stand on his own two feet and deal with the fall out from his comments. Something tells me, he would not get very far. Very unfortunate words, John Rich. Very unfortunate and very uneducated words.

 
At 5:48 AM, Blogger lonewolf64 said...

I was always told as well as taught that a person should only believe half of what you see,and nothing you hear!!!--So,John Rich stated his opinion,the last time that i checked; Wasn't everybody entitled to his or her own opinion??--There is no use in crying over spilled milk-So just "Get Over It!!"--No matter what,John Rich is still one of my Favorite Singers/Songwriters!!!--And I plan to continue to support him!!,I'm not going to stop buying his Cd's or quit listening to his music,nor will i stop attending his concerts-Just because he stated his personal opinion!!!

 
At 7:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

whoooo fuuuucking cares, both of them are tools.

 
At 5:18 AM, Anonymous Becky Decker said...

Well isn't Anonymous a pitiful excuse for a man. He boldly states that gay people should be prepared for self ridicule. Isn't that special? He is obviously someone that lacks emphathy and intelligence. Most educated people know that being gay isn't a choice. However, being ignorant is a choice. I suggest Mr. Anonymous take himself to a library and study a subject before opening his mouth.

 

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