Supporters Accuse Jelly Roll of Playing Dumb on Politics at Grammys

Jelly Roll’s political views are under fresh scrutiny after comments he made at the 68th Grammy Awards sparked debate online.

The 41-year-old singer, born Jason DeFord, had a big night at the Grammys, taking home three awards. But behind the scenes, his brief exchange with reporters quickly became the focus of attention.

When asked to comment on the political climate in the U.S., especially following other artists’ criticism of ICE during the ceremony, Jelly Roll initially declined.

“Not really,” he said, before adding that while he enjoys talking about serious topics, people “shouldn’t care to hear my opinion.” He went on to describe himself as “a dumb redneck” and claimed he had been disconnected from politics, saying he didn’t even have a phone for 18 months.

Those remarks didn’t sit well with some fans.

Soon after, TikTok users began digging into Jelly Roll’s past, arguing that he does, in fact, have political awareness. One viral video claimed that the singer was “playing dumb” to avoid answering the question.

Supporters pointed to resurfaced photos showing Jelly Roll spending time with political figures. One image shows him smiling alongside Kristi Noem, who later praised him in an Instagram post and called him a friend. She also shared that Jelly Roll performed his first-ever concert at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip in South Dakota.

More photos later appeared from a UFC event, showing the musician with Donald Trump and other high-profile figures. A post from Mike Johnson revealed Jelly Roll posing with Donald Trump Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Adding to the debate, critics also noted that Jelly Roll has previously spoken in front of Congress — something they say contradicts his claim of being disconnected from politics.

The TikToker who helped fuel the discussion summed it up by saying the issue wasn’t Jelly Roll’s beliefs, but how he handled the question. According to them, the singer should have simply said he didn’t want to comment and moved on.

For now, Jelly Roll has not responded to the online backlash. While fans continue to praise his music and personal journey, the moment has reignited conversations about whether public figures can — or should — avoid political questions in today’s climate.