Chase Rice comes under fire again for making a COVID-19 joke to promote a new single

Four months after coming under fire for holding a concert for 4,000 fans in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, country singer Chase Rice is at the center of controversy again.

The 35-year-old country star took to Twitter on Sunday night, revealing, ‘Just lost my taste and smell. Weird. Also, dropping a single at midnight.’

He clarified a few minutes later that he didn’t have COVID-19, while revealing the single is with singing duo Florida Georgia Line, one of whom, Tyler Hubbard, tested positive for the virus earlier this month.

Controversy: Four months after coming under fire for holding a concert for 4,000 fans in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, country singer Chase Rice is at the center of controversy again

No taste: The 35-year-old country star took to Twitter on Sunday night, revealing, 'Just lost my taste and smell. Weird. Also, dropping a single at midnight'

No taste: The 35-year-old country star took to Twitter on Sunday night, revealing, ‘Just lost my taste and smell. Weird. Also, dropping a single at midnight’

‘On a real note. Don’t have covid. But I’m dropping a single tonight. With 2 guys that I learned a lot from. Respect the hell out of @FLAGALine,’ he said in the tweet.  

‘And 10 years after we started doing music together and lived together, we’re at it again. Drinkin beer. Talkin God. Amen,’ he concluded.

Many fans didn’t hesitate to call out Rice on Twitter, some of whom believed that Hubbard might not appreciate the joke.

Real note: 'On a real note. Don’t have covid. But I’m dropping a single tonight. With 2 guys that I learned a lot from. Respect the hell out of @FLAGALine,' he said in the tweet

Real note: ‘On a real note. Don’t have covid. But I’m dropping a single tonight. With 2 guys that I learned a lot from. Respect the hell out of @FLAGALine,’ he said in the tweet

New song: 'And 10 years after we started doing music together and lived together, we’re at it again. Drinkin beer. Talkin God. Amen,' he concluded

New song: ‘And 10 years after we started doing music together and lived together, we’re at it again. Drinkin beer. Talkin God. Amen,’ he concluded

‘I’m legitimately glad you’re ok but it’s NOT funny joking about having Covid. Especially to promote music. People are literally dying from it. And Tyler might not find your joke funny either since he’s actually HAD Covid,’ said Twitter user @Kaylore.

@Derekjames66 added, ‘Speaking of respect, I used to respect you as an artist. But I was so disappointed to see how you handled the pandemic earlier this year, and now this. You’ve lost a fan my man. Be better.’

@flutiefan suggested that, given his, ‘joke in poor taste considering the state of our citizens at this time,’ she hopes he will ‘sincerely apologize and donate a portion of the sales from this single to frontline workers and PPE as a good faith gesture.’

Not funny: 'I'm legitimately glad you're ok but it's NOT funny joking about having Covid. Especially to promote music. People are literally dying from it. And Tyler might not find your joke funny either since he's actually HAD Covid,' said Twitter user @Kaylore

Not funny: ‘I’m legitimately glad you’re ok but it’s NOT funny joking about having Covid. Especially to promote music. People are literally dying from it. And Tyler might not find your joke funny either since he’s actually HAD Covid,’ said Twitter user @Kaylore

No respect: @Derekjames66 added, 'Speaking of respect, I used to respect you as an artist. But I was so disappointed to see how you handled the pandemic earlier this year, and now this. You’ve lost a fan my man. Be better'

No respect: @Derekjames66 added, ‘Speaking of respect, I used to respect you as an artist. But I was so disappointed to see how you handled the pandemic earlier this year, and now this. You’ve lost a fan my man. Be better’

Poor taste: flutiefan suggested that, given his, 'joke in poor taste considering the state of our citizens at this time,' she hopes he will 'sincerely apologize and donate a portion of the sales from this single to frontline workers and PPE as a good faith gesture'

Poor taste: flutiefan suggested that, given his, ‘joke in poor taste considering the state of our citizens at this time,’ she hopes he will ‘sincerely apologize and donate a portion of the sales from this single to frontline workers and PPE as a good faith gesture’

@wendyrn11 also suggested a donation of some kind would be a way to mend fences, stating, ‘Really in bad taste to joke about Covid. Thought you had learned something since the concert incident this year. Guess not. Here’s an idea: take all the earnings from this song and donate to Covid survivors or donate PPE to local hospitals. Do better, Covid is not a joke.’

Another fan, @ashleylayneee added, ‘I’ve lost all my respect for you this year. Congrats. I’ll be turning off the radio every time it comes on.’ 

@RyanBounsall added, ‘Always a good idea to mock the over 230,000 dead Americans and over 1,000,000 that have tested positive from COVID-19 in a feasible attempt to promote your new music. @Thubbmusic hope you are better than that.’

Do better: @wendyrn11 also suggested a donation of some kind would be a way to mend fences, stating, 'Really in bad taste to joke about Covid. Thought you had learned something since the concert incident this year. Guess not. Here’s an idea: take all the earnings from this song and donate to Covid survivors or donate PPE to local hospitals. Do better, Covid is not a joke'

Do better: @wendyrn11 also suggested a donation of some kind would be a way to mend fences, stating, ‘Really in bad taste to joke about Covid. Thought you had learned something since the concert incident this year. Guess not. Here’s an idea: take all the earnings from this song and donate to Covid survivors or donate PPE to local hospitals. Do better, Covid is not a joke’

Lost respect: Another fan, @ashleylayneee added, 'I’ve lost all my respect for you this year. Congrats. I’ll be turning off the radio every time it comes on'

Lost respect: Another fan, @ashleylayneee added, ‘I’ve lost all my respect for you this year. Congrats. I’ll be turning off the radio every time it comes on’

Better: @RyanBounsall added, 'Always a good idea to mock the over 230,000 dead Americans and over 1,000,000 that have tested positive from COVID-19 in a feasible attempt to promote your new music. @Thubbmusic hope you are better than that'

Better: @RyanBounsall added, ‘Always a good idea to mock the over 230,000 dead Americans and over 1,000,000 that have tested positive from COVID-19 in a feasible attempt to promote your new music. @Thubbmusic hope you are better than that’

Another fan, @Courts_4494, added, ‘259,005 people dead from covid and you make the choice to get attention for your new single by pretending to have two of the symptoms. That’s pathetic! Give all proceeds from this new single to providing PPE to hospitals or front line workers since you feel the need to joke.’

@larisscardigan added, ‘imagine using a virus that one of the men THAT SANG WITH YOU ON THIS SONG has battled to promote the song. i KNOW he doesn’t appreciate it. you should be ashamed of yourself.’

@Annette71655368 said, ‘ Wow, you mock Covid and the Americans who have died and then talk about God. Shame.’

@_Karyn_ stated, ‘One of them had CoVid and you still think it’s okay to make a joke?’ 

Pathetic: Another fan, @Courts_4494, added, '259,005 people dead from covid and you make the choice to get attention for your new single by pretending to have two of the symptoms. That’s pathetic! Give all proceeds from this new single to providing PPE to hospitals or front line workers since you feel the need to joke'

Pathetic: Another fan, @Courts_4494, added, ‘259,005 people dead from covid and you make the choice to get attention for your new single by pretending to have two of the symptoms. That’s pathetic! Give all proceeds from this new single to providing PPE to hospitals or front line workers since you feel the need to joke’

Ashamed: @larisscardigan added, 'imagine using a virus that one of the men THAT SANG WITH YOU ON THIS SONG has battled to promote the song. i KNOW he doesn't appreciate it. you should be ashamed of yourself'

Ashamed: @larisscardigan added, ‘imagine using a virus that one of the men THAT SANG WITH YOU ON THIS SONG has battled to promote the song. i KNOW he doesn’t appreciate it. you should be ashamed of yourself’

Shame: @Annette71655368 said, ' Wow, you mock Covid and the Americans who have died and then talk about God. Shame'

Shame: @Annette71655368 said, ‘ Wow, you mock Covid and the Americans who have died and then talk about God. Shame’

Not OK: @_Karyn_ stated, 'One of them had CoVid and you still think it’s okay to make a joke?'

Not OK: @_Karyn_ stated, ‘One of them had CoVid and you still think it’s okay to make a joke?’

Rice came under fire in July when he held a concert for 4,000 fans in Petros, Tennessee, where fans were not wearing masks or social distancing.

Rice took to Instagram after the concert to apologize, making it clear the safety of his fans is a ‘top priority,’ adding his next concert would be a drive-in show.

The singer was criticized by other musicians such as Kelsea Ballerini, who called him out for being ‘selfish’ for holding the concert.

Under fire: Rice came under fire in July when he held a concert for 4,000 fans in Petros, Tennessee, where fans were not wearing masks or social distancing

Under fire: Rice came under fire in July when he held a concert for 4,000 fans in Petros, Tennessee, where fans were not wearing masks or social distancing

Safety: Rice took to Instagram after the concert to apologize, making it clear the safety of his fans is a 'top priority,' adding his next concert would be a drive-in show

Safety: Rice took to Instagram after the concert to apologize, making it clear the safety of his fans is a ‘top priority,’ adding his next concert would be a drive-in show

Selfish: The singer was criticized by other musicians such as Kelsea Ballerini, who called him out for being 'selfish' for holding the concert

Selfish: The singer was criticized by other musicians such as Kelsea Ballerini, who called him out for being ‘selfish’ for holding the concert