Even though Florida governor Ron DeSantis put a bill into law that stops businesses from forcing patrons to prove vaccination and threatening violators with heavy fines, promoters are charging more to unvaccinated guests anyways.
Wyoming’s rock band, Teenage Bottlerocket’s, is paying $18 to attendees who can verify they got the shot while demanding $999.99 to those who have purposefully avoided it.
The promoter, Paul Williams, told The Washington Post, “I’m not denying entry to anyone.” He said, “I’m just offering a discount.”
Even though the concert is scheduled for June 26th in St. Petersburg, just before DeSantis’ bill takes effect, Williams said he didn’t expect it to generate the level of national interest and hostility that it has.
Williams continued, “I didn’t know that caring about my community would make me Hitler,” when referring to the influx of threats, spam calls, and anti-vax Facebook messages. This show could be the band’s “last,” according to one threatening email, which also stated, “your [sic] fans are going to kill you.”
Williams has remained unfazed by the threatening email, saying, “We’re still sticking to our guns.” Fans must show their ID and vaccination card to enter the show at the “discount” price in a few weeks. Discount tickets are currently sold out, and no standard tickets have been purchased.
In an email to the Washington Post, Christina Pushaw, press secretary for the governor’s office, said, “Charging higher ticket prices for individuals who do not furnish proof of vaccination unfairly discriminates against people who have enumerated rights under Florida law.”
