A list of nearly two dozen artists who are supposedly boycotting Florida over its ‘Stand Your Ground’ law went around the Internet on Monday, but the list’s validity has been called into question as several people on the list have all denied the report. These artists include the Rolling Stones, Jay Z, Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys.
American Urban Radio Networks’ April Ryan posted a list of 23 A-list musicians who said that they would not perform in Florida as long as ‘Stand Your Ground’ still existed. They are supposedly following in the footsteps of Stevie Wonder, who said after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the killing of trayvon Martin that he wouldn't perform in any state with a ‘Stand Your Ground’ law.
Since Ryan’s list was published, several of the artists have said that they will still perform in Florida. Mother Jones spoke with the Stones’ rep Fran Curtis, who said that she was “not aware of this.” Keys’ rep sent the site another statement that read, “We question the validity of this list since Alicia's name along with many others has appeared erroneously.”
PolitFact called Ryan’s entire report false, noting that several of these artists either are not touring, don’t have plans to perform in Florida anyway or just performed there. Rihanna was in Tampa in April and Rod Stewart’s rep said that the legend’s tour “hasn't ever included Florida dates so that isn't accurate.” Madonna was also on the list, but she isn’t touring this year.
On top of that, Timberlake and Jay Z’s ‘Legends of Summer’ show at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium on Aug. 16 is still on.
While many of the artists on the list had said shown their support for Trayvon Martin and his family, it looks like none of them are actually planning on boycotting the Sunshine State.
image: NBC