Congressman Sends a Message to Jelly Roll

By
Mark Stevens
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Country singer and rapper Jelly Roll’s decision to take shots at President Donald Trump while guest-hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has drawn a blunt response from Republican Rep. Jimmy Patronis of Florida, who declared the performer unwelcome in his part of the state.

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, opened Monday’s show with jokes targeting Trump’s weight and approval ratings, using his own dramatic weight loss as the setup.

After losing approximately 300 pounds, Jelly Roll joked that he had “lost an entire Donald Trump,” before adding that “most of the country wants to do the same thing,” according to Fox News.


The routine became considerably cruder from there. Jelly Roll referred to himself and Trump as “fat pig[s]” and delivered another vulgar joke involving physical fitness.

Patronis was not amused.


The Florida Republican responded on X by telling Jelly Roll to stay away from the Panhandle.

“@JellyRoll615 is 100% not welcomed to Florida’s panhandle,” Patronis wrote.

“I don’t even want to see his bus on I-10. He’s always been the token ‘country’ star the libs in California are allowed to enjoy. (He ain’t country, never was.) Take the TDS elsewhere, loser.”


The backlash did not persuade Jelly Roll to soften his approach.

Returning Tuesday, the singer addressed listeners who said his Trump jokes had caused them to reconsider supporting his music.

“For those who threatened to stop listening to my music based on my comments last night, I just want to say with conviction: go right ahead,” he said, according to Entertainment Weekly.

That response effectively left fans with a straightforward choice. Jelly Roll was not apologizing, and anyone sufficiently offended by the routine was free to stop listening.


But the political backlash was only part of the criticism.

Saving Country Music, a website focused primarily on traditional and independent country music, published a blistering assessment Wednesday arguing that Jelly Roll’s popularity had already peaked before his appearance on Kimmel.

“It’s over. At least for the most part, and for now,” the site declared.


The publication argued that entertainment executives continue treating Jelly Roll as a major cultural attraction despite what it described as declining public interest.

“And though the producers of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and other corporate-warped minds might think he’s still the current hot thing or some universally-beloved character, the truth is that Jelly Roll is cold product, and has been for many months now,” the article stated.

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