BREWERY BROUHAHA: Texas beerhall cancels MAGA “free speech” event and fur starts to fly

BREWERY BROUHAHA: Texas beerhall cancels MAGA "free speech" event and fur starts to fly

MAGA poster boy Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of the murder charges that were leveled at him after he admitted shooting several people at a Black Lives Matter protest with a gun of questionable legality. Since then, he’s become an absolute idol in the Republican Party — but that doesn’t mean his brand of conservatism is welcome everywhere, as evidenced by the cancellation of his “free speech” rally at a Texas brewery.

Rittenhouse and his fans are now lashing out at Southern Star Brewing Company after the brewery canceled an event he was headlining.

The brewery, clearly at its wits’ end with the public response, posted a statement saying that they are apolitical and that the event planned for 1/26 does not align with its values.

Now Kyle and his friends are responding with posts attacking the brewery.

In one, Rittenhouse declares, “I don’t support companies who don’t support the first amendment,” in a breathtaking display of ignorance of Constitutional law.

(Pro-tip: the First Amendment protects against the government punishing one for speech; it does not force businesses to provide a platform for that speech.)

The onslaught against the company — from, ironically, the same folks railing against what they call “cancel culture” – is so extreme that they’re turning off or limiting comments on many of their posts.

MAGA supporters, however, seem to be prioritizing their presumed right to hold a rally wherever they choose over the private company’s First Amendment right not to host speech they find damaging to their business.

Here’s what Southern Star had to say:

[Screenshot via Southern Star Brewing/Facebook]
Rittenhouse responded to the news by tweeting and retweeting a string of highly critical attacks on the company.

[Screenshot via Kyle Rittenhouse/Twitter]
In fact, they eventually blocked him, which he also complained about.

https://twitter.com/ThisIsKyleR/status/1614031426885672961

The event was initially marketed as an anti-censorship rally, put on by Defiance Press. And it seems that backlash came only after they announced Rittenhouse as their keynote speaker.

He even retweeted posts complaining that the company has hosted Pride events, seeming to suggest it’s unfair to allow events for LGBTQ people if they won’t also host a highly controversial individual who clearly makes some customers feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

[Screenshot via Kyle Rittenhouse/Twitter]
We have reached out to Southern Star for comment and will update you if they respond

Steph Bazzle covers politics and theocracy, always aiming for a world free from extremism and authoritarianism. Follow Steph on Twitter @imjustasteph.

Stephanie Bazzle

Steph Bazzle is a news writer who covers politics and theocracy, always aiming for a world free from extremism and authoritarianism. Follow Steph on Twitter @imjustasteph. Sign up for all of her stories to be delivered to your inbox here: