R&B veteran Eric Benét recently delivered a scathing rebuke of Jelly Roll, condemning the country star’s decision to remain silent on global political issues during the 2026 Grammy Awards. Benét’s frustration was ignited by what he perceived as a hypocritical gap between Jelly Roll’s public displays of faith and his private deflection of social responsibility.
In a candid video posted to Instagram on Sunday, Benét reflected on the country artist’s faith-centered acceptance speech for Best Contemporary Country Album. “We all witnessed that moment where he gave that powerful testimony,” Benét remarked, referencing Jelly Roll’s emotional reaction to winning for his project Beautifully Broken. “He’s holding a Bible, testifying about the Lord’s work in his life.”
However, Benét argued that this spiritual fervor vanished once the singer stepped backstage. The songwriter highlighted a viral press room moment where Jelly Roll was asked to comment on current global humanitarian crises. Instead of offering a stance, the “Need a Favor” singer retreated into a self-deprecating persona, claiming he was just a “dumb redneck” who keeps his views to himself.
“It’s hard to trust anyone who can speak so passionately about love, yet has absolutely nothing to say when it’s time to stand against hate,” Benét asserted in his video. He suggested that avoiding these conversations is a sign of insincerity for someone who presents themselves as a moral or religious figure.
The catalyst for this tension occurred shortly after Jelly Roll swept his three categories at the Recording Academy ceremony. When journalists inquired about his perspective on national unrest—specifically regarding the tragic ICE-related deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti—Jelly Roll claimed that fans shouldn’t care about his opinion on such matters.
“I’m disconnected from the noise,” the country artist explained at the time, citing a childhood spent in a drug-addicted household and his own history of incarceration as reasons for his political apathy. While he promised to share more substantial thoughts with his fanbase within a week of the ceremony, three weeks have passed without further comment.
Responding to critics who told him to “leave politics out of it,” Benét released a follow-up video on Monday to clarify his position. He argued that human rights are not a matter of partisan politics, but of basic morality.
“If you claim to follow the teachings of Christ, how much ‘research’ do you really need to conclude that genocide and the suffering of children are evil?” Benét questioned. He concluded by reminding his audience that sheltering the homeless and loving one’s neighbor are the fundamental tenets of the faith Jelly Roll frequently cites. “Speaking out against these things isn’t being political—it’s just being a good Christian.”
Watch Eric Benét’s full commentary on the situation below.
