Ted Nugent concert in Alabama canceled amid social media backlash
Ted Nugent’s concert in Birmingham has been canceled amid a wave of controversy on social media.
Nugent, 74, a hard rock veteran and political provocateur, was set to play on July 18 at Avondale Brewing Co. His appearance here, which was announced on Monday by promoter Red Mountain Entertainment, inspired intense reactions this week among concertgoers, who expressed anger and disappointment on the venue’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
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About 1,000 comments were posted on Avondale Brewing’s Facebook page after the show was announced, and most of them were bluntly negative. More than 150 comments on the venue’s Instagram page followed suit.
Detractors cited their opposition to Nugent’s far right-wing political views — which the rocker himself has proudly called “radical” — and said they wouldn’t support Avondale Brewing Co. in the future if Nugent performed there. They slammed the rocker as homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic, an intolerant hate-monger and more.
“Lose this show or lose my business,” commenter @86composure said on Avondale Brewing’s Instagram page, and many others agreed.
“I will never spend another dollar in your establishment,” David Symonds said on Facebook. “Grotesque that you would book such trash. Do better.”
“Oh, perfect. Just perfect,” said Lynne Hall. “Alabama, you never disappoint … the right-wing nuts, that is! Avondale Brewery, you are dead to me.”
“Do better! To bring this transphobic individual into our diverse neighborhood is a travesty,” said Tandy D. Hayes.
“Disgusting!” said Jim Anderson. “No more Avondale for me.”
“This is incredibly disappointing,” said Susan Crow. “Ted Nugent spews lies and hatred and you are giving him a platform. Shame on you.”
On Thursday afternoon, Avondale Brewing Co. announced Nugent’s show was canceled, one day before tickets were to go on sale via Ticketmaster.
“We have heard the concerns of the Avondale community, which is so important to us, and in conjunction with our partners, have taken the necessary steps to to cancel the Ted Nugent concert scheduled for July 18,” the venue said in a post on Instagram Stories.
Nugent’s concert is no longer listed on Avondale Brewing’s website and its Ticketmaster listing was gone on Thursday by 5 p.m. Also, posts on the venue’s social media accounts — and the reactions from commenters — have been deleted.
The show here was part of a summer concert trek called “Adios MOFO ‘23: The Final Tour,” which Nugent has described as his farewell to touring. In a video announcing his 2023 farewell tour, Nugent proclaimed himself a “political firestorm” and added that “my music is radical; my attitude is radical, my middle finger is radical; my guitar tone is radical.”
Nugent, a longtime outdoorsman, is an outspoken advocate for hunting and gun ownership rights. He’s also known as a staunch conservative and supporter of former President Donald Trump — one of the few music celebrities to openly support Trump during his campaign and afterward.
Nugent has expressed strong views about issues ranging from the Black Lives Matter movement to gender-affirming care to the coronavirus pandemic. After dismissing the virus and declining to take the vaccine, the rocker said he tested positive for COVID in 2021. (“I thought I was dying,” Nugent said.)
Nugent is vehemently opposed to President Joe Biden and his administration, calling the president a “soulless zombie” and comparing him to Adolf Hitler. He shares his views with about 3.7 million followers on Facebook, 660,000 followers on Twitter and 474,000 followers on Instagram. Nugent also has a YouTube channel with about 40,000 subscribers.
The guitarist and singer — a Michigan native also known as “Uncle Ted,” “The Nuge” and “the Motor City Madman” — is no stranger to Alabama, and has performed here several times over the years.
Nugent performed at Birmingham’s Iron City in 2017, for example, and has appeared at venues such as Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham. During his ‘70s heyday, Nugent headlined at least three times at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, according to data provided by the venue. Most recently, he performed in August 2022 at Mars Music Hall in Huntsville.
Previous shows in in the state haven’t inspired such passionate dissent on social media, but this time evidently was different. Although Nugent’s supporters rallied with social media comments of their own, folks in opposition to the show won the day.
“That’s embarrassing,” Kelly Webb said in a Facebook comment.
“Puke,” Rosie Morrow Heindl said on Facebook.
“What a huge disappointment in Avondale Brewery,” said Lynn Bethard Neel. “You are showing us what you are. What a huge ick spot on our beautiful Avondale. This guy is a MAGA nut.”
Leah Hermes McNac summed up the feelings of many on social media with her Facebook comment: “Can y’all f—in not do this?”
