In March 2003, the American country band the Dixie Chicks publicly criticized President George W. Bush, triggering a backlash. At a concert in London during their Top of the World Tour, the lead singer, Natalie Maines, said the Dixie Chicks were ashamed Bush was from the same state as them, and that they did not support the imminent invasion of Iraq.

The Dixie Chicks were one of the most popular American country acts at the time. After the statement was reported by the British newspaper The Guardian, it triggered a backlash from American country listeners, who were mostly right-wing and supported the war. The Dixie Chicks were blacklisted by many country radio stations, received death threats and were criticized by other country musicians. Sales of their music and concert tickets declined and they lost corporate sponsorship. A few days later, Maines issued an apology, saying her remark had been disrespectful. She rescinded the apology in 2006, saying she felt Bush deserved no respect.

Some of the comments by prominent fascists at the time(cw misogyny)

  • ReadFanon [any, any]
    ·
    3 months ago

    Strange how this case never gets brought up when conservatives complain about cancel culture

    • roux [he/him, they/them]
      ·
      3 months ago

      Gonna start saying "Like the Dixie Chicks?" when my family brings up cancel culture from here on out.

      They basically got canceled for criticizing the president for murdering something like a million Iraqis.