Musician Garth Brooks honored the city of Detroit by wearing NFL legend Barry Sanders’ jersey during a concert, but sparked outrage among confused fans who mistook the gesture as one of support for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
A photo shared to Brooks’, 58, Instagram account shows him wearing the celebrated No. 20 jersey of former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders at a performance at Ford Field in Michigan.
Barry Sanders, 51, became a symbol for the city after he played 10 seasons with the football team, was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame and had his Lions jersey retired after unexpectedly leaving the league.
Garth Brooks angered some confused fans after they believed his ‘Sanders’ jersey, which celebrates NFL star Barry Sanders, was in support of Bernie Sanders
Barry Sanders (left) played 10 seasons with the football team, was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame and had his Lions jersey retired after unexpectedly leaving the league
Brooks gave the city an additional shoutout, writing: ‘Detroit you carried me all night long But you always have I’m in love with you! love, g.’
Unfortunately, several fans misunderstood Brooks homage to Barry and began blasting the Grammy Award winner for his alleged Democratic endorsement.
‘If this is for Bernie Sanders, I’m done with you. I though you were a true American that loves Our Country,’ one Instagram commenter said.
A man wrote: ‘If that’s a Bernie shirt I just lost a lot respect for you!’
Fans took to the comment section to air their grievances over Brooks’ alleged endorsement, not understanding that it was for Barry Sanders
This fan didn’t mince words and said he ‘lost a lot of respect’ for Brooks if he endorsed Bernie Sanders
This woman said ‘Nooooo Garth, at least you are a great singer’ in the country star’s Instagram comment section
One woman noted that at least Brooks is a good singer, despite his perceived political affiliation.
‘Nooooo Garth, at least you are a great singer,’ she wrote.
Other users lambasted Brooks for apparently mixing politics with pleasure.
‘I wish you would’ve kept your political preferences to yourself,’ one woman said.
Brooks (pictured) has not yet publicly backed a candidate for the 2020 presidential election
Despite having the same last name, Barry Sanders (left) rose to fame as an accomplished NFL player and Bernie Sanders (right) made his name in politics
‘You just lost thousands of fans in Michigan,’ one woman said, ‘Just stick to your music.
‘Sanders??’ one flabbergasted man wrote, ‘Don’t care for your politics. Love your music. Let’s keep politics and your entertainment separate.’
One woman seemed exasperated by the hoax reveal, saying: ‘Good grief. Can’t you just what you get paid to do??? We don’t pay good money for anything other than to watch you perform.
‘Thought you were different.’
On the other hand, dozens of fans praised Brooks for what they believed was a real endorsement.
Fans also criticized Brooks for mixing his politics with his entertainment in the Instagram post
Fans asked that Brooks ‘stick to music’ and leave the political endorsements out of his social media
This woman not-so-gently reminded Brooks that fans like herself ‘don’t pay good money for anything other than to watch you perform’
Luckily, people who recognized the error took to the comments to dispel any confusion on Brooks’ photo.
‘For all you uncultured people that know nothing about football in the slightest. it’s BARRY Sanders. so y’all can chill with the hate. this barry and garth deserve nothing but respect,’ one person said.
One man wrote: ‘Facebook forgot who Barry Sanders is and is freaking out at Garth Brooks for wearing a jersey and I’m dying.’
Some users couldn’t help but suggest that wearing Barry’s jersey was ill-timed as the heated presidential race has begun.
‘Really poor decision to wear the Barry Sanders jersey in this politically significant time of year with Bern supporters spreading the word it’s meant for their candidate,’ one man wrote.
‘Kinda thought you were more intelligent than that.’
People who recognized the error took to the comments to dispel any confusion on Brooks’ photo
‘Really poor decision to wear the Barry Sanders jersey in this politically significant time of year with Bern supporters spreading the word it’s meant for their candidate,’ one person wrote
A number of people went to the comments to simply get a laugh at the confusion
Garth Brooks hasn’t publicly spoken out about the mix-up, and the country music star has yet to =endorse any hopeful candidate in the 2020 election.
However, other celebrities have been outspoken in their support for the Vermont politician.
Last week, actor Dick Van Dyke announced his endorsement for Bernie Sanders on social media and called the upcoming election the most important ‘since World War II’.
He supported Sanders in the 2016 election, as well.
In a statement, Van Dyke said: ‘The age question keeps coming up. I know that I’m 20 years older than Bernie. I have all my marbles. I could run for office if I wanted to.
‘So I don’t think age – it really doesn’t matter, except for his experience and the years he’s put in,’ the comedian said
‘So I don’t think age – it really doesn’t matter, except for his experience and the years he’s put in.
‘Why wouldn’t an older citizen vote for somebody with that kind of a record and with that kind of experience and honesty and trust?
‘It just doesn’t make sense to me that he’s not getting my generation. And I want to urge my generation to get out and vote for him, please.
‘Bernie has been consistent with his policies ever since I first met him when he was in the Senate. He never has changed his attack because of pressure from the outside or when he felt the wind was blowing another way.
Celebrities like Cardi B, Lizzo and Danny DeVito have expressed their support for Bernie Sanders (pictured)
‘He stuck to who he is and what he believes in. So I think somebody younger, like Bernie, is just a perfect candidate. Yeah, he’ll be around a long time,’ he said.
Van Dyke also took a swipe at Trump during his endorsement by attacking his handling of the climate crisis.
‘Four more years of no concern about the climate. We must get him out of there. Democratic principles are flying out the window. He has assumed authority beyond what the president is allowed and he’s going to get worse,’ he said.
Singer Ariana Grande has also praised Sanders, calling the 78-year-old ‘my guy’ in a November 2019 Instagram post.
”MY GUY. thank you Senator Sanders for coming to my show, making my whole night and for all that you stand for !!!’ she wrote in the caption.
Ariana Grande and Bernie Sanders exchanged sweet social media messages after the 2020 presidential hopeful made a surprise appearance at the pop star’s Atlanta concert on Tuesday
Grande posted a pair of photos of her and the Vermont senator greeting each other backstage
Other celebrities who have publicly backed Sanders include rapper Cardi B, Lizzo, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon.
Sanders has moved into the front-runner position in the Democratic race after wins in the New Hampshire and Nevada primaries. The South Carolina primary, where Joe Biden is favored, votes Saturday, before 14 states decide their preference on Super Tuesday on March 3.