Blue Lives Matter Cancels Jelly Roll Performance after He Attacks President Trump

Blue Lives Matter has pulled country singer Jelly Roll from a November fundraiser at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago after the artist spent a week on late-night television mocking Trump’s weight, fitness, and supporters. The group said it sent him a formal invitation in April to perform at the Second Annual Big Blue Bash, a charity night for families of wounded and fallen officers. That invitation is now withdrawn. Organizers replaced him with country singer Coffey Anderson and put the decision in no-nonsense terms: “We’re DONE. You’re FIRED.”

The announcement followed Jelly Roll’s run as guest host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from August 24th through the 27th. The Big Blue Bash is scheduled for November 17th at Mar-a-Lago. Blue Lives Matter, which owns the Police Tribune, said the night is a fundraiser for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that assists families of wounded and fallen officers. Organizers said federal law enforcement leaders, sheriffs, police chiefs, and supporters are expected, with an “American Superheroes” theme and guests including Lou Ferrigno, Dean Cain, and Kevin Sorbo.

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, used the Kimmel monologues to turn his own 300-pound weight loss into a punchline at Trump’s expense. He told the studio audience, “In the last few years, I’ve lost 300 pounds. That means I’ve lost an entire Donald Trump.” He added, “And let’s be honest, based on his approval ratings, it seems like most of the country wants to do the same thing.” He later addressed the president directly, saying, “Well, Mr. President, from one fat pig to another, take it from me that physical fitness is very important.”

After viewers and fans objected, Jelly Roll didn’t walk the remarks back. As Fox News reported, the monologues included crude jokes about Trump’s weight and approval ratings. He later told the audience that any U.S. president should be able to handle a few jokes and then invited the boycotts. “For those who threatened to stop listening to my music based on my comments last night, I just want to say with conviction: Go right ahead,” he said. The Kimmel week also included cracks at Trump’s appearance at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington and at the president’s trade fight with Canada.

Blue Lives Matter answered on September 4th and 5th. Police Tribune owner Kyle S. Reyes said the group had made a mistake by inviting Jelly Roll on April 26th to perform at the Mar-a-Lago gala. “We’re formally withdrawing the invitation for Jelly Roll,” the post said. Reyes identified himself as a Christian, a husband, and a father of four girls, then described what he saw on Kimmel as an artist “desperately seeking attention and relevancy from the very Godless crowd that has categorically rejected his preaching.”

Reyes kept going in the same statement: “The man has lost his way. I don’t hate him. I actually genuinely pity him,” he wrote. He noted that Jelly Roll, a convicted felon, has spoken often about second chances, then said a second chance from the same audience he attacked was another matter. “What he really needs to seek now isn’t forgiveness from President Trump or those who he attacked… but rather from the very God whom he snubbed his nose at while trying to boost his ratings,” the post said. “What you did wasn’t strong or in love. It wasn’t the actions of a man. It was the actions of a little boy seeking the approval of man.”

The next day, Blue Lives Matter named the replacement. “We’ve selected a TRUE PATRIOT to honor those who serve… to pay tribute to the families of wounded and fallen officers… and to recognize Angel Families,” the group posted. Coffey Anderson will perform “Mr. Red White And Blue” and “America is My Hometown” and close the gala with worship music, following last year’s performer, Aaron Lewis. Reyes told The Post Millennial the event opens and closes in prayer and weaves the Gospel through the night. “The last thing we’re going to do is invite a wolf in sheep’s clothing who is willing to sell his own soul for the approval of man,” he said.

“We don’t hold Jelly Roll’s hate against him – but we sure aren’t going to welcome him into the home of the very man he decided to attack,” Reyes said. “We also aren’t going to allow a God-honoring event where we pay tribute to the families of fallen officers and pray over their families to be tarnished by a man who has lost his way.”

Featured image credit: Setoxxx, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons