Chase Rice Responds To Backlash Over Packed Concert During Pandemic

Chase Rice Responds To Backlash Over Packed Concert During Pandemic

Chase Rice is speaking out after being criticized for performing a crowded live concert amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

On Saturday night (June 27), Rice played a show at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, Tennessee where thousands of concertgoers packed into the venue. During the event Rice shared a video to his Instagram story taken while on stage which showed a large crowed cheering in close proximity and without masks.

The video quickly went viral on Twitter leading public figures from the country community like Kelsea Ballerini, Mickey Guyton, Bobby Bones and more to speak out.

On Monday evening (June 29), the "Lonely If You Are" singer turned to social media to address the incident, acknowledging that some people "had a big problem with how the show looked, how the show went down."

"I understand that there are a lot of varying opinions, a lot of different opinions on COVID-19, how it works with live music, crowds and what all that looks like," he said in a video message. "My biggest thing is y'all. Y'all are why I get to write songs, why I get to tour the country, why I get to do live shows, sings these songs to you guys and you guys sing them back. You guys are everything to me, so your safety is a huge, huge priority."

Rice continued on to ask fans to practice social distancing guidelines at his next scheduled concert, a "drive-in show" scheduled for Friday (July 3) at Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky.

"Take your truck. Take your cars. You have your own space," he explained. "You can get out of your cars, you can get out of your trucks and party with me. Please do sing the songs, but stay in your own space and the people you came with."

He adds, "The biggest thing for all of us is the safer we are now, the quicker we get to ... actual normal live shows, which I know we all want."

Rice then thanks his fans for their support and concludes asking fans once more to follow the rules. "Please go by the laws on this Friday show coming up and the shows moving forward, so we can get to regular shows soon enough," he says. "Love you guys. God bless you and God bless country music."

Photo: Getty Images


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