The annual Patriots Day Freedom Fest, an event that boasted Kid Rock on its lineup, has been cancelled after just a handful of VIP tickets sold.
The event, organized by MAGA influencer Eric Deters, was slated to take place on September 26, with reality star Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman also set to appear as a speaker.
However, Deters confirmed in a video on Monday that the Kentucky event would be cancelled after his wealthy connections failed to buy enough $1,000 VIP tickets. Deters had been planning to make the event free for regular guests and hoped to sell around VIP tickets to 100 wealthy people.
According to Deters, only 6 people had bought VIP tickets.
“Rank-and-file Americans are the backbone of this country - both political parties,” he said. “I want to tell you something: rich people, as a whole, suck.”
Deters went on to make a slight caveat for himself, though.
“Now I’m a rich person. I live in one hell of a house. I don’t suck, because I know that money isn’t what freakin’ matters the most,” he claimed. “It’s the fight, it’s the cause, it’s helping people.
“That ain’t the way rich people think. Rich people only want to make more money.”
Previously, the event at Deters’ Morning View farm - which is located around 25 miles from Cincinnati - had been a big draw for MAGA fans. Podcaster Candace Owens has spoken at the festival, as have President Trump’s own sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr.
This year, Kid Rock - whose real name is Robert James Ritchie - was set to appear, having been a vocal supporter of Trump in his second term. Duane Chapman, the titular star of Dog the Bounty Hunter and another Trump supporter, was also scheduled to speak.
Despite the previous popularity of the event, Deters says he has been left feeling “really p***ed off” by the failure of his wealthy contacts to purchase VIP tickets.
“I do countless favors for these people,” he said. “These people - some of them - I got ignored!”
“Then there’s a group of people that made an excuse, like, ‘Oh, I was traveling.’ Like their phone doesn’t work while traveling.”
Addressing the likelihood that he would help one of those wealthy contacts in future, Deters was blunt.
“None of these people will ever, ever, ever get a favor from me again. Ever,” he blasted.
Deters used similar rhetoric when revealing the future of the Freedom Fest.
“I am never ever, ever, ever, ever doing this event again. Ever,” he declared.
The cancellation of the event has attracted much attention online, both from the press and from social media. Deters posted a second video on Monday responding to the online flurry, defending the event.
“There’s even national media picking up this story as if it was a failed event for lack of support. No,” he said, adding: “The issue was simply paying for the damn event because I make it free.”
