Country music superstar Travis Tritt announced this week he will not play at concert venues requiring guests to prove they’re vaccinated against COVID-19, wear masks, or test for the virus before the show.
“This is a sacrifice that I’m willing to make to stand up for the freedoms that generations of Americans have enjoyed for their entire lifetimes,” Tritt wrote in a statement released Monday. “There are plenty of promoters and venues around the country that appreciate fans and the freedom of choice in this great country, and those are the promoters and venues that I will be supporting.”
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The entertainer’s announcement resulted in the cancelation of previously schedules shows in Muncie, Indiana; Philadelphia, Mississippi; Peoria, Illinois; and Louisville, Kenucky.
During an an interview with radio host Steven Crowder, Tritt said he took his cues from famed guitarist Eric Clapton, who announced in late July he would not play at venues mandating proof of vaccination from patrons.
“I just agreed from a philosophical standpoint about we have to preserve our freedoms,” Tritt said. “We’ve never been in a situation that I know of in this country where the government has been allowed to force you to take medicine that you may or may not need.”
The singer-songwriter said he plans to stick to his guns on this issue, too.
Moving forward, Tritt explained, any venue or promoter “mandating masks, requiring vaccinations, or pushing COVID testing protocols on my fans will not be tolerated.”
“Any show I have booked that discriminates against concert-goers by requiring proof of vaccination, a COVID test, or a mask is being canceled immediately,” he wrote. “Many people are taking a firm stand against these mandates around the country, and I wholeheartedly support that cause. I have been extremely vocal against mandates since the beginning.”
Tritt, 58, apologized to fans planning to attend the canceled shows, noting he is trying to “reschedule unrestricted shows in these areas as soon as we can.”
In a tweet that has garnered nearly 10,000 likes, Tritt wrote the “fear-mongering narrative” pushed by politicians and in the media “is breaking down,” adding, “Pepole who stand up against this narrative scare the [expletive] out of those who promote fear. Hold the line and stand strong.”
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