Country Music Television (CMT) was slammed by viewers last week after the company pressured viewers to wear orange in support of gun control.
“We’re (virtually) wearing orange today in support National Gun Violence Awareness Day and to call attention to the more than 100 lives that are lost every day to gun violence. #WearOrange and visit wearorange.org for more,” CMT tweeted on Friday.
CMT’s tweet sparked backlash from country music fans, many of whom accused the company of alienating its audience.
“@CMT and @NASCAR have both forgotten who their core audience is again I see,” one viewer tweeted.
According to the Wear Orange campaign’s website, the movement calls on people to wear orange in an effort to call attention to the gun violence “crisis.”
“On June 4, 2021 people across the country came together to Wear Orange to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and call attention to this crisis that takes more than 100 lives every single day,” the website states.
“Fifty-eight percent of American adults or someone they care for have experienced gun violence in their lifetime. Approximately three million American children witness gun violence every year,” it continues. “Together, we can build a future free from gun violence. Stand up, speak out, and participate in Wear Orange events to raise awareness.”
“I changed the channel,” another user said in response to the campaign.
“NO ONE is killed by a gun! Guns by themselves can do nothing!!!! It takes a person with a willful mind to pick up that gun, load it, point it, and pull the trigger. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE and if they didn’t have a gun, they would use whatever they have,” another wrote.
Another Twitter user accused the company of lying about the number of lives lost each day to shootings.
“First off 100 lives per day is a LIE, the actual number is closer to 35 and 90% of those are gang related. I prefer to support the 2nd Amendment and the 2 million+ lives SAVED each year with self defense firearms,” the user wrote.
“I no longer support CMT,” a fifth viewer tweeted. “Good riddance to another woke support group, out of touch with their audience.”
The Los Angeles Times reported that a survey of the first 100 direct responses to the channel’s message revealed just 4 were supportive of the effort.
“Good for you ! When they wrote the second amendment all they had were one shot rifles.I don’t think they ever imagined that weapons of war could be purchased!” one Twitter user responded. “Gun control is desperately needed, background checks and a waiting period. Those who against gun control are idiots!”
