Toby Keith Rages At Ethan Hawke

LAS VEGAS — Ethan Hawke might want to avoid crossing paths with Toby Keith in the near future.

The country star lit into the actor for an article Hawke wrote in the new issue of Rolling Stone about Kris Kristofferson. In it, Hawke refers to a blowup Kristofferson had with an unnamed country star back in 2003 that sounds a lot like Toby Keith.

But a furious Keith, speaking backstage at the Academy of Country Music Awards, said it wasn't true, and added that Hawke did not name him in the story because he did not want to face him later.

"I don't know Ethan Hawke. Ethan Hawke wanted to do some kind of superficial Rolling Stone article. And he did everything he could to make his story the greatest story ever in Rolling Stone," Keith said. "And it was a fictitious (expletive) lie. O.K?

"He didn't even call me by my name. ... He called Norah Jones, Ray Charles, everybody else by name. Willie (Nelson), Kris (Kristofferson). Why didn't he call my name? Why didn't he say Toby Keith walked through and said this (expletive)? Right? You know why. You know why. You know as good as anybody why. He didn't want to (expletive) deal with the aftermath."

In the story, Hawke claimed he witnessed the confrontation backstage at Nelson's tribute concert for his 70th birthday at the Beacon Theatre in New York. The article does not name Keith but says it was a country singer who "had a monster hit about bombing America's enemies back into the stone age." In 2002, Keith had the song "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American)" that threatened retribution for the 9/11 attacks.

Hawke said the argument began with the "Star" telling Kristofferson: "None of that lefty (expletive) out there tonight, Kris."

Hawke said Kristofferson then angrily confronted and asked him if he had ever served in the military.

"Have you ever killed another man? Huh? Have you ever taken another man's life and then cashed the check your country gave you for doing it? No, you have not, so shut the (expletive) up," Hawke recounted Kristofferson as saying. "You don't know what the hell you are talking about."

A spokeswoman for Hawke did not immediately return a message seeking comment. A Rolling Stone spokeswoman said that the magazine fully stands by the story and Hawke's reporting.

Keith directed his anger Sunday not only at Hawke but at a reporter from the Tennessean who wrote about the Hawke article and asked Keith about it backstage.

Kristofferson, in a statement, said he did not recall the incident and tried to be diplomatic to all sides.

"I would like to state for the record that I am friends with Ethan Hawke, Toby Keith and Tennessean reporter Peter Cooper. Although I do not remember the events at Willie's birthday party as reported in Rolling Stone, what does it matter?" he asked. "That was six years ago. I spoke to Ethan before I put out my statement and thanked him for the beautiful story he wrote for Rolling Stone and I also told him I did not recall the incident at Willie's birthday party. This is the last statement I will put out about this nonsense."

Comments

[virgil19]

Toby Keith's most creative contribution were his stupid Ford truck ads.

[Scooter60660]

Keith aimed his anger at the Dixe Chicks for awhile. Keith was a coward then.

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

Yes but I am pretty sure Toby felt like he could have beat up the Chicks if it came down to it..

[proudloudlib]

And that wouldn't have surprised me one bit. But I think Natalie could take him.

[kladinvt]

Toby Keith? I'm sorry...who is this?

[csavage]

Thank you! From best I can guess, Toby Keith is another of a long line of no talent rednecks called country singers. He'll be just as famous as Billy Ray Cyrus in a few years....

[onlyred]

I thought TK was the coolest thing to hit country music when he first showed up on CMT. What he did to the dixie chicks was the only straw for me though. Since then, his tirades and constant sucking up to what he THINKS the country fan base is have been revolting.

I've listened to country music for my whole life, but I don't listen to him. Sorry TK.. you're a jerk and you've proved it over and over again.. don't think we needed Ethan Hawke to tell us.

[Boboday555]

Patricia Richardson, Angie Harmon, Toby Keith, Tom Seleck, Ben Stein, Drew Carey etc; MAN, don't ya' just hate these self absorbed Hollywood types?

[jaschrod]

Yes

[bulfinch]

Never heard of these people.

[oregonboy]

no not really, i dont like sean penn, richard belzer, mos def,tavis smiley. what a country

[bkpx]

To all you knee-jerk responders:

Toby Keith may be a good ole boy, but he's a good ole boy with a political conscience. He publicly declared his support for Obama at a time when the tide looked like it was turning in McCain/Palin's favor (a brave thing to do considering country music's demographic). He's good friends with Willie Nelson. He's played tours in Iraq for the troops. His Angry American song may have been a bit bone-headed, but you have to consider the context.

As for this particular incident, consider the source. Last time I checked, Ethan Hawke was an actor, not a reporter. Something might have been said, it might have even been a heated exchange ... emotions were running high at the time ... but I doubt it happened the way Hawke described it. He should stick to his day job.

Signed,
A southern progressive who likes both Toby Keith and Kris Kristofferson

[readreza]

Toby Keith is also a liar. Ethan Hawke, Kris Kristofferson and Natalie Maines all display intelligence that is sadly lackig in Keith. He comes off as a macho, not too bright and not too effective liar every time he opens his mouth.

And, how exactly do you figure there "could have been an exchange" but "doubt" it happened as reported? There is no reason to doubt that it happened that way. Keith shot off his mouth and someone told him to shut up. I doubt that happens less than once a week. And, last time I checked, Keith was a country singer, not a politician or activist... and while he would like others to shut up, he seems completely unwilling to do the same.

[RedneckDem]

TK gives a kick butt concert as well!

[proudloudlib]

I wouldn't know, because you couldn't pay me enough to attend one. Have seen Kristofferson, though, and I'll never forget that experience. Awesome.

[MathIsTruth]

"Last time I checked, Ethan Hawke was an actor, not a reporter."

Sorry, I don't get your point. I mean, Bill O'Reilly is a reporter, and not someone I'd go to for the facts.

Most actors are good at observing people and good at memorizing dialog. The fact that Hawke is an actor, therefore, definitely does not disqualify him.

[bkpx]

Bill O'Reilly is a reporter? That's news to me.

[jeffhrsn]

So Hawke can't relay a story because he also acts? Nice logic.

You doubt the story happened the way Hawke tells it? Any evidence to the contrary?

Knee-jerk indeed!

[madisonhack]

Rolling Stone confirms Hawke's telling of the incident. End of story for your post, I guess.

[Mahi Joe]

Machoism is passe`. Yawn.

[den1953]

Maybe the public should just enjoy or hate the work actor's and singer's do and stop worshiping them like some god and treat them like they are regular people doing what they do ,no big freakin deal!

[Boboday555]

Toby Keith Rages at ______ (insert lefty's name here).

[Boboday555]

Toby Keith is a little boy with his Pappy's gun.

[sclan5]

Well I guess I'm understanding how I'm so messed up.
I'm a Democrat who likes country music, loves the Dixie Chicks, likes some of Toby Keith's music, dislikes his politics, supports President Obama, my son drives a pick-up truck, and is a fireman, my daughter goes to a private liberal arts collage.
What is wrong with you people wanting to lump everyone into some group or another.
Deal with it.

[easyrider1969]

Who's Ethan Hawke? I know Toby Keith's in C&W show business, is funny, and backed Obama over McBush and that funny woman.

[ellawensmom]

Actually, he LOVES Palin and thinks she's the best thing to happen in politics in a long time. He's no Democrat.

[Klee114]

Then why did THIS website publish an an article about Keith supporting Obama?

[Drumbum2112]

So he yelled and swore because someone accused him if yelling and swearing? From his reaction, it is easy to believe the story was true.

[MsLiz]

I thought Ethan Hawke was talking about Shania Twain.

[fame]

I see TK's point, but wasn't the time to call Ethan Hawke out, oh, SIX YEARS AGO? Move on, dude.

[MsLiz]

The Rolling Stone article was not written then.