In 2014, comedian, musician, podcaster and Nashvillian Chris Crofton asked the Scene for an advice column, so we gave him one. Crowning himself the “Advice King,” Crofton shares his hard-won wisdom with whoever seeks it. Follow Crofton on Twitter and Instagram (@thecroftonshow), and check out his The Advice King Anthology and Cold Brew Got Me Like podcast. To submit a question for the Advice King, email bestofbread@gmail.com.
Dear Advice King,
As a longtime Nashville resident, I was disgusted to see Rob Schneider on the stage at CBS’ Nashville’s Big Bash New Year’s Eve broadcast. Why was he there? Do people not know his politics — if you can call them that? Does he even live in Nashville? Who made that decision, and how do we push back?
—Leslie in Bordeaux
Thanks for the question, Leslie! I watched part of that New Year’s show. It looked like Woodstock ’99, or The Gathering of the Juggaloes. I saw Rob Schneider. I didn’t know why he was there. I didn’t recognize anyone else on that stage — except for the ghost of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Fun fact: Lynyrd Skynyrd appeared as part of the “Sean Hannity Freedom Concert” series in 2010, promoting their album God & Guns. Hannity was a fan of their song “That Ain’t My America.” Here are some lyrics: “Now there’s kids that can’t pray in school, hundred-dollar tanks of gas / I can tell you right now this country ain’t, ain’t supposed to be like that.” Sound familiar? Right-wing talking points never change.
Chris Crofton
I think it’s weird that some people seem to think “low gas prices” is in the Constitution. Or prayer in schools. Neither of them is. In fact, America was founded on the explicit principle of not imposing your religion on your neighbor, and not at all about gas, since cars hadn’t been invented.
The Confederate flag figured prominently in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s stage decor until 2019.
Lynyrd Skynyrd was an odd choice to play a New Year’s Eve celebration in 2023. There are no living original members, and they’re not even from Nashville. It’s almost as if the organizers were trying to convey a political message. But why would they do that? Country music fans often say they’re mad when artists are political — artists like Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and Margo Price. They didn’t get mad at Jason Aldean, though. Hmmm. Would they be OK with Taylor Swift singing a song called “The President Doesn’t Set Gas Prices”?
But Lynyrd Skynyrd didn’t ruin my New Year’s Eve, Leslie. When Rob Schneider appeared on my screen, it was a different story. Here are a few of his recent tweets:
“The next president of Harvard University MUST be a Black woman = 2 points! If she’s Black and a Lesbian = another 2 points! If she is Black, a Lesbian and physically Disabled = another 3 points! Qualified to Lead a prominent University? Not required: minus ALL points!”
“Why would any sane parent in 2024 send their child to an Ivy League School?! Only 4% of the population has statistically identified as gay for decades. Now, for some reason, 20% of Gen Z identifies as LBGTQ+ and in 2023, 40% (look it up!) of Brown University identifies as LBGTQ+”
“Congratulations Chicago! You elected a Lori Lightfoot with a Dick!”
“That’s why the Democrats loved covid…under the guise of ‘emergency, it gave them the opportunity to increase their state powers and diminish individual liberties…Taking away rights.
These rights/liberties were not given to Americans by our founders fathers, they were earned through their bloodshed…”
Democrats loved COVID?! Tell that to my Democrat friend who lost both of his parents to COVID over a span of two months in 2020.
On New Year’s Eve, Rob Schneider was representing Nashville worldwide. He is not an unknown quantity in right-wing circles. He has 1.7 million Twitter followers. He spoke at this year’s Turning Point USA conference. From that speech: “So much has changed so rapidly. It’s only been a couple of years since we’ve learned that women could have dicks.”
His presence wasn’t a dog whistle to hate groups — IT WAS THE WHOLE DOG. I was reminded of when the Ryman hosted a Daily Wire event a couple of years ago.
I love Nashville. It is diverse, and not hateful. We are allowing a few powerful people to advertise Nashville as a safe space for racists and demagogues. When I see it, I feel a responsibility to point it out. The executive producers of that show were Mary Hilliard Harrington and Robert Deaton (executive producer of the CMA Awards). Ask them what they were thinking.
