UFC’s Dana White Rails Against Jason Aldean for Turning Down Anthem Performance for Survivors
WARNING: Some Language
The President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, is furious with the Jason Aldean camp for allegedly turning down the UFC’s offer to sing the National Anthem before UFC 216 Saturday night in Las Vegas, citing that he was still to shaken up to perform, and may never to perform again, only to show up to unexpectedly do the cold open for Saturday Night Live instead. Jason Aldean addressed the Las Vegas tragedy, and sang Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” in tribute during the SNL taping.
“Fuck you Jason Aldean. Stay out of Vegas,” TMZ Sports quotes Dana Armstrong as saying. “His image was more important then coming back to Vegas and playing for the people who are his fans and who got shot watching him play.”
Dana White says that the UFC had organized to have 15 survivors of the shooting massacre at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in attendance, as well as “hundreds” of first responders who worked the incident. However Aldean and numerous other country music performers turned down the UFC to perform at the event, according to White.
“Country music was attacked. Those were country music fans,” White says. “Those are people who buy your albums and none of you country music people could sing the anthem in front of survivors and 1st responders? This isn’t about money. This is about the bad ass people who fought through this shit that this coward did.”
After all of the UFC’s requests for a country artist to play the event were denied, Everlast eventually stepped up to play the anthem.
Jason Aldean’s brief statement on Saturday Night Live followed by his performance of “I Won’t Back Down” was well received by the public, with the video on YouTube posted shortly thereafter receiving nearly 2 million views so far.
Jason Aldean’s camp has not responded to Dana White’s accusations.
Julian Spivey
October 8, 2017 @ 7:18 pm
Dana White can go fuck himself. It was an important message for Aldean to give to a larger audience and doubled as a nice tribute to Tom Petty.
And if I read this right White is saying that Aldean’s reps said he might never perform again. Nobody believes that BS for a second.
How dare you Dana White for making me defend Jason Aldean!
Jamie
October 8, 2017 @ 7:23 pm
The article reads “2016” Did you want it to read that or is it supposed to read “2017”? As in the year.
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 7:32 pm
It’s “216,” as in UFC #216, meaning the 216th event.
Cilla
October 8, 2017 @ 7:27 pm
Didn’t we just read a entire post “people should back off “Jason Aldean.? Seriously…STOP.JUST STOP . passive aggressive behavior is not good for anyone. Does anyone know where Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr were today, IN LAS VEGAS visiting victims that are still hospitalized.
Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr are as much victims in this deadly shooting as much as anyone who was there. Has it occurred to anyone JASON ALDEAN has two daughters that probably were affected by all these postings and his wife is pregnant and dew in 8 weeks. Jason Aldean at this point has given his heart felt statement and performed last night on SNL in tribute to the victims in LAS VEGAS. No one knows how this event will shape his life going forward,or how it is effecting his daughters at this moment. JUST STOP. Not a fan of his music,But I do know WE ARE ALL HUMAN and no one knows how this event is effecting him. JUST STOP.
EW in DFW
October 9, 2017 @ 5:05 am
“Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr are as much victims in this deadly shooting as much as anyone who was there.”
Really?
Cilla
October 9, 2017 @ 5:31 am
Yes.
mattdangerously
October 10, 2017 @ 6:32 am
There were people there who were actually shot and killed.
Cilla
October 10, 2017 @ 7:04 am
Let me explain it this way: PTSD is real. People who survive tragedies often have a life long struggle with it. They are victims of the tragedy because they will relive it MENTALITY. IT DOESN’T GO AWAY,just because time moves on.
OMFS88
October 10, 2017 @ 8:46 am
Certainly you see the distinction here though?
RWP
October 8, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
I think that’s his point. He wanted a bigger audience for HIS image instead of coming back to the city where it happened with survivors in attendance.
Cilla
October 8, 2017 @ 7:35 pm
SEE my post….Jason was in VEGAS Today. IMO,At this point Jason Aldean doesn’t owe anyone
anything. Those that EXPECT something need to get over themselves.
RWP
October 8, 2017 @ 7:55 pm
Oh I agree and don’t expect anything from the man other than horrible music. But I also agree with Dana on this one. It probably would of been better for him too as he would of been saved from all the comments on how he mutilated a Tom Petty song on national TV.
TheKillerRocksOn
October 8, 2017 @ 7:50 pm
Can’t stomach anything Aldean, but anytime Dana White gets slipped the green weenie makes Ol’ Killer smile..
Storiesofyou
October 8, 2017 @ 7:52 pm
The guy just went through what, I guarantee you, was the most horrific experience of his life. How about we let him decide what he’s ready for and what he’s not. He owes nothing to anyone. Maybe a comedy show where he honoured a music legend was doable for him, and facing the family of victims whose pain he partly feels responsible for just isn’t yet. Let alone the fact that he’s probably trying to go 10 minutes without thinking of this tragedy, if that’s even possible. Oh, and after the anthem, he’d get to watch a bunch of people beat the shit out of each other like “Fuck the coward who committed this senseless violence, now let’s get bloody!” I don’t blame him at all for turning it down.
Fuck Dana White.
Rhonda Thacker
October 8, 2017 @ 7:52 pm
I’m not a Aldean fan but this pisses me off! National Anthem in Vegas, in a much larger crowd of people the smaller group of people, a safe enclosed space of SNL! Please! This loser Dana White wasn’t there and has NO IDEA how Aldean feels nor how long it will take to get over such a horrific event! Dana you’re 15 minutes of fame is OVER! Shame on you for getting it at the expense of the Vegas trade guy!
RWP
October 8, 2017 @ 7:57 pm
.lol 15 minutes of fame? You really have no idea who Dana White is,do you?
Isaac
October 9, 2017 @ 8:46 am
A dude who used to have way more name recognition? A fella that makes controversial comments in the hopes of getting another minute’s worth of spotlight?
Elliot
October 10, 2017 @ 1:11 am
He’s a fight promoter, he makes controversial comments for a living, it’s who he is
nascarfan999
October 8, 2017 @ 8:02 pm
Dana has some points, but he really needs to step back and put himself in Jason’s shoes. I will say that (assuming it is true) I am disappointed that none of the country artists asked accepted. You would think one of the artists who was at the festival would make it happen.
Tony m
October 8, 2017 @ 8:15 pm
Leave him alone
There is no “right ” way to handle this
If he isn’t ready to play vegas not even a week after the last time , considering what happend , that’s personally reasonable
I find it interesting no one said yes but I wonder how many they actually asked
GuitarJim
October 8, 2017 @ 8:28 pm
Are you kidding me? I’ll admit…I have no idea who Dana White is. Never heard his name before reading this article. Don’t like Jason Aldean’s music. Got no horse in this race. Anyone who has the nerve to say, “Fuck You, Jason Aldean” a week after the Vegas shootings is either an insensitive idiot or is simply trying to use the whole thing to fill seats at one of his little bitch-slapping parties, or whatever it is he promotes. Totally out of line. What a jerk.
I watched Jason Aldean’s SNL cold opening. I thought it was great. He and the band had probably just learned the song. He didn’t sound very polished. He sounded like an regular guy singing song. He moved up a notch in my eyes (though I’ll still never listen to his music…)
AT
October 8, 2017 @ 8:43 pm
Jason’s covered that song for years. It was a regular part of his set during 2008/2009 when he opened for Toby Keith.
Jtrpdx
October 8, 2017 @ 9:18 pm
That’s hard to believe that Alden had played that song before, given how bad the vocals were. But thanks for sharing that. Really interesting.
hoptowntiger94
October 8, 2017 @ 10:34 pm
I saw Aldean play I Won’t Back Down in 06 or 07 opening for Tim McGraw
james
October 8, 2017 @ 8:46 pm
i 100 percent agree with that second paragraph u wrote
Jo A. Wood
October 8, 2017 @ 8:53 pm
Wow!!! What a JERK, to put it nicely!! I’m not a big Aldean fan but I can’t imagine the fear he felt! Also just so JERK knows it’s not his business how anyone (Mr Aldean too) grieves or acts about the Vegas horror!!!! There is no “right” reaction! Piss off JERK!
Honkytonksue
October 8, 2017 @ 9:02 pm
I have to agree that UFC is not a peaceful and noble setting and I can understand musicians turning the request down. Too bad his Dana person has taken it personally, though I think many in his position would feel the same. Country music and UFC fans may be, and probably are worlds apart. Dana would be unable to comprehend that and feel publicly rejected. UFC is a nasty business but, like wrestling, people who love it, love it. Dana’s show indicates that his heart was in the right place. WE need some peace and forgiveness to survive this new world.
SanFranciscoDays
October 8, 2017 @ 9:20 pm
I hate this article from you, Trig. I didn’t like the Eric Church one, I thought he was clearly so sincere and genuinely upset that there was no need to add your “he loves talking about himself” spin. Even if the first part of it was positive, there was just no need to say anything remotely negative about it. He was crying onstage. So now we have Jason Aldean’s first comments about it, and they’re read emotionless off a cue card, not even written by him, followed by a bad karaoke performance, and you have no opinion on it, you’re just reporting it.
Trigger
October 8, 2017 @ 10:15 pm
These were not Jason Aldean’s first comments about the incident, nor his second. They were his first in a live setting I guess.
Folks said they didn’t want to hear my opinion in the Eric Church matter, so I reserved my opinion here. And now I’m being admonished for not giving my opinion. Guess it proves you can’t please everyone.
This is a very strange website in the sense that it’s run by one person, yet I’ll cover news, write reviews, give opinions, engage in satire, etc., and sometimes all in the same day. Don’t think that strangeness escapes me. The main reason I didn’t give my opinion here is because there was already so much conflict in this story, I decided to just present the information and let the public decide. Sometimes I just don’t have an opinion to share. Also in this case, nobody in the country realm was reporting this story (unlike the Eric Church story), so I felt a need to just convey the information as opposed to interjecting my viewpoint.
Jason Aldean is not Eric Church. Public speaking is not the guy’s forte. I’m not going to hold that against him in this instance.
DJ
October 9, 2017 @ 8:23 am
I don’t agree with all your opinions, musically or politically, but damn son, you knocked this one outta the park. I’ll award a 10 out of 10 LOL
BenBen
October 8, 2017 @ 9:38 pm
I don’t like this guy’s music AT ALL.
Just wanted to start with that. Haha
I guess my perspective works like this.
We all have to get up and go to work (whether music industry or not) after something terrible happens.
The world doesn’t stop no matter what happens.
So I guess I saw him and was like, “Okay so the dude is trying to get back to work and doing a little damage control in the process”. I think he’s a victim just like everyone else that was there. Since when do we force/shame victims to perform and/or make appearances for events. That just seems kind of fucked up.
I don’t think we should give the guy shit for anything that we wouldn’t have given him shit for over a week ago. I’m just not a fan of kicking someone while they’re down. Thats just my two cents.
Josh
October 8, 2017 @ 9:38 pm
Either a bunch of new people randomly happened to comment, OR… Jason’s camp found SCM.
Maybe y’all will pick up some musical taste while you’re here!
BenBen
October 8, 2017 @ 9:57 pm
Josh, a lot of mainstream people do view this site regularly and I’m sure of it.
When I first got to town, anytime I brought up that I read this site to find new/upcoming country artists I’ve gotten some pretty mixed responses. Most of the folks in the underground seem to dig it from what I can tell.
But I’ve gotten some shit at some gatherings before from individuals (mostly songwriters) that passionately loathe it’s very existence.
Which kind of made me happy because that means that it’s working in one way or another. I’ve learned since then to read the room before opening my mouth. So yeah I’m pretty sure they’re reading/commenting more so than ever as well. Given the subject matter of course.
Sam Cody
October 8, 2017 @ 10:13 pm
That Dana punk sounds really important.
hoptowntiger94
October 8, 2017 @ 10:43 pm
How crazy are the CMA’s going to be?
Cory
October 8, 2017 @ 10:59 pm
Maybe Jason will plan something else for Vegas, like Ariana Grande did for Manchester.
James Hooker
October 9, 2017 @ 12:40 am
Dear Dana. Apparently, not everyone can be Audie Fucking Murphy. Fuck you.
JohnWayneTwitty
October 9, 2017 @ 12:42 am
Who in the hell wants to hear offkey Aldean nose grunt his way through the National Anthem anyway??
Cowboyal
October 9, 2017 @ 12:47 am
If Dana White is telling the truth – that’s a poor showing from the country music artists. Someone should have accepted the invitation to perform at the event.
Having listened to Aldean’s performance of “I Won’t Back Down” – he really does have mediocre vocals.
I like the drummer though 🙂
Marc
October 9, 2017 @ 2:52 am
I’m not all that familiar with the UFC but I wonder what there relationship with country music is like. Do any fighters play country music as their entrance music? Maybe it appears to the artists that Dana would be using them for the UFC’s image. Dana should have held back on his comments until he had more info as it was mentioned on here earlier that Jason had in fact gone back to Vegas to meet the victims.
63Guild
October 9, 2017 @ 5:56 am
Yes several fighters do use country songs for walkout. The first to really do it was Matt Hughes who used Bocephus “Country boy can survive.” it pissed off Dana who wanted him to change it to something more fast paced but Hughes essentially told him to kiss his ass
-Ed.
October 9, 2017 @ 3:46 am
Never heard of Dana White, never heard of UFC unless they’re the naked guys who kick each other to death inside a cage, I watched that once. I didn’t know the Everlast bunny could sing, much less perform the national anthem. SCM is an educational site for me. Thanks Trigger!
Stringbuzz
October 9, 2017 @ 5:59 am
UFC is a business. The event is an event that makes money for Dana White and the UFC. Why should anybody have to do anything for them if they don’t want to?
Self important greedy asshole.
Daphne marshall
October 9, 2017 @ 7:57 am
Dana , you are an ass!
MP
October 9, 2017 @ 8:12 am
I agree with Dana, that is all.
Mike W.
October 9, 2017 @ 8:20 am
Ah, the head of human cock-fighting calling out the morals of someone else. The pot is calling the kettle Mr. White.
Isaac
October 9, 2017 @ 8:50 am
Dana White, the morning after everyone reported on Aldean at SNL: “Hey, that was supposed to be MY publicity!”
RD
October 9, 2017 @ 9:27 am
Aldean is like the opposite of Ashley Graham. She has the face of a supermodel and the body of Grimace. From the neck up, Aldean looks like Mama June, but from the neck down, he looks like a regular Joe. Damn genetics.
Isaac
October 9, 2017 @ 10:01 am
Grimace is a little much, but I’ve never heard that used as a descriptor before, so take the like.
RD
October 9, 2017 @ 11:13 am
Thanks. I forgot to mention that her love of cheeseburgers is rivaled only by the Hamburgler.
Isaac
October 9, 2017 @ 11:31 am
Boo! Now you’ve gone too far!
Amanda
October 10, 2017 @ 8:01 pm
I laughed out loud at the Grimace comment. I actually had the biggest crush ever on Jason Aldean when I was a kid and he was new on the scene. Don’t ask why. I was nine years old and thought he was the most gorgeous thing I’d ever seen. XD
I’m 21 now and things have changed, but I can still agree he’s had a few awesome songs in his career. The Truth, Amarillo Sky, Asphalt Cowboy, and the entirety of the Relentless album come to mind and still hold up very well.
RD
October 10, 2017 @ 8:12 pm
Good Lord, I’m old. When I was a kid, the girls liked Axl Rose.
Amanda
October 10, 2017 @ 8:28 pm
Guns N Roses!! Thanks to my dad, I am familiar with 80s rock as well as country.
Although I’m ashamed to admit it, my entire bedroom door was covered from top to bottom in Aldean posters and cutouts from Country Weekly. I was a strange child.
Clint
October 9, 2017 @ 9:37 am
I thought Aldean was great. I really cant imagine.
I am in Vegas now and it is so different than the many times I have been here. People have come up to us and thanked us just for being here and not being scared.
June
October 9, 2017 @ 9:53 am
Everyone is acting STUPID! Leave that man and his family alone
Chris
October 9, 2017 @ 10:17 am
To Hell with Dana White.
Honky
October 9, 2017 @ 11:42 am
Boy, he is one dreadfully horrible vocalist.
Jeremiah
October 9, 2017 @ 11:55 am
In Dana’s defense; Dana said he was told by Jason’s management that “Jason may never perform again” which he said was understandable. He then saw that Jason performed on SNL. His anger toward Jason came from the lie he felt he was told and his anger toward the other country singers was really just lumping them in with Jason.
Benny Lee
October 9, 2017 @ 12:43 pm
Nice performance by Aldean. Like most who frequent this site I’m not a fan, but it was a nice moment for him. He did go off key early on, but I’ll give him a pass for that given what he’s been dealing with.
I also think performing at the UFC so soon after the attack would have been a horrible decision for him, personally and professionally.
ANT
October 9, 2017 @ 4:04 pm
Aldean would of took off running after he sung the bombs bursting in air part anyways.
Nate
October 9, 2017 @ 4:40 pm
I’m so sick of people attacking Jason Aldean for what he did or didn’t do since last Monday. And I don’t even like him!!! Do we know if he had SNL booked before or after Dana White’s request? There could be a lack of communication there. It sounds like Dana didn’t even speak with Jason directly. And I heard people are pissed that Jason cancelled a bunch of shows but was willing to play SNL and get publicity. As if he’s the only person on tour and the only one affected by this shooting. There was his entire crew, his band, his family. Who knows if any of their equipment was damaged? There are a ton of people he takes on tour with him who he has to watch out for and make the decision to cancel shows for, not just himself. He’s not being selfish. Stop judging people for doing things when you have no idea what is going on behind the scenes.
Shannon LaTray
October 9, 2017 @ 5:16 pm
I have to wonder, how many of you that have made unnecessary remarks and comments on here have had anything like this happen to you? I survived the Murrah bombing in 1995. By luck, I walked out of the building and past the Ryder truck and down to my car, started it, drove past the truck and turned the corner when the bomb went off. It was weeks before I could even leave my house and even to this day, I won’t put myself anywhere near moving trucks. Traumatic events affect people differently. And the fact that Jason Aldean performed anywhere so shortly after the Vegas shooting, shows a great deal of courage. He is a victim, too and I think so many of you forget that….He’s showing that the acts of an ugly individual are not going to stop him from being himself and doing what he loves…no matter where it may be.
That’s the problem with the world today, so quick to judge and so slow to have compassion.
Jason
October 9, 2017 @ 8:03 pm
Everlast thought that the anthem was too controversial so instead he sang America The Beautiful. I wonder if they perfume that at other events would people be kneeling still? Dana definitely wanted the publicity for himself and the UFC. Not sure how many people at that concert are from vegas let alone how many people from vegas was at the fight. I have been to vegas for several concerts and fights and every person I have met and talked with are never from vegas. All around the world usually.
Elliot
October 10, 2017 @ 1:18 am
I believe around 1500 tickets were offered to survivors and first responders
Ulysses McCaskill
October 10, 2017 @ 12:12 am
Never liked Dana. That strawberry-lookin clown needs to go away.
Luckyoldsun
October 10, 2017 @ 12:20 am
Dana White is a lowlife to be cursing out Aldean like that.
In show business, you invite artists to appear, some say Yes, some say No. It would be one thing if Aldean had accepted and promised to appear–and then backed out at the last minute with a phony reason. Then the promoter would at least have a reason to be pissed. But Aldean simply said No. You work with what you have.
handsomeblackcowboybrady1953
October 10, 2017 @ 6:23 am
Dana White’s the white Don King (a crook,that is),so perhaps he and Jason can meet in the octagon.The winner gets Yours Truly.Don’t let my being 64 fool you;I’m a pretty powerful 5’9″,205 lb.!
CountryCharm
October 10, 2017 @ 6:30 am
Maybe somebody who survived an act of violence just doesn’t feel up to singing the national anthem before a sporting event glorifying violence? Be it his own prejudice or coming from a PR angle, SNL was the far better choice.
S
October 10, 2017 @ 8:56 am
I think the best tribute he could do for Tom Petty would be to never again play one of his songs. I’m guessing TP was not an Aldean fan.
Scott
October 10, 2017 @ 8:49 pm
I’ll qualify this by saying I think Jason Aldean makes garbage music, most of which has no meaning to him, for money and fame. To each his own, but not for me. He has also been in the news for some stuff that makes me think he’s not a great dude. Strike two.
That being said, Dana White is clueless. If he knew anything about how people deal with going through trauma he would never saying anything like this. This only shows what an ignorant asshole he apparently is. Jason Aldean experienced the worst mass shooting in American history. He can respond however he needs and he doesn’t need to play a national anthem or answer to Dana White about that response. We shouldn’t expect him any more from him than any other person who witnessed this horrific tragedy.
CraigR.
October 11, 2017 @ 11:02 am
Jason Aldean always attracts controversial attention. I thought his appearance on SNL was ok. He is a horrible singer, and so uptight. There was no emotional force behind ” I Won’t Back Down”, and the song is more about Aldean’s image than Tom Petty’s death. A better song would have been Petty’s ” I Forgive It All” but that wouldn’t fit Jason Aldean. But it would have fit the moment and be a good way to move on.
AX10
October 12, 2017 @ 11:44 am
I do not care for Aldean’s music. With that said, Mr. Aldean can perform for whomever he wants to. Dana White is the menace behind one of the most brutal and vile “sports” to ever exist.
One cannot really be surprised to see White act this way, a faux little tinpot scumbag.
MMA: Not the Arts