Toby Keith Irate Over Rolling Stone Story

(AP)  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.

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"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."

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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."

By Oskar Garcia

[gl84685]

Toby Keith vs Kris K.
Here is a little test that will help you decide:

You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, an Islamic terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife, and charges at you.

> You are carrying a Glock cal 40, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family.

> What do you do?

Kris K's answer:

> Well, that's not enough information to answer the question! Does the man look poor! Or oppressed?

> Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?

> Could we run away?

> What does my wife think? What about the kids?

> Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?

> What does the law say about this situation?

> Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it

> Why am I carrying a load ed gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children?

> Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me and letting my family go

> Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?

> If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?

> Should I call 9-1-1 ?

> Why is this street so deserted? We need to raise taxes, have a paint and weed day and make this a happier, healthier

> street that would discourage such behavior.

> This is all so confusing!

> I need to discuss with some friends over a latte and try to come to a consensus.


Toby K's Answer

> BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

> Click.... (sounds of reloading)


> BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click

> Daughter: 'Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?'


> Son: 'You got him, Pop! Can I shoot the next one?'

> Wife: 'You are not taking that to the taxidermist!

[gce651]

Kristofferson probably doesn't remember it because either 1) he's just being diplomatic and polite to this loser, or 2) because he regards Moby Teeth as less significant than the corn kernels in his t-u-r-d-s.

[gce651]

Toby Keith is a coward. He never served in uniform, just like Kristofferson said.
Keith talks a lot and likes to wrap himself in the flag whenever he can, but he's a blowhard and a paper soldier.
His fake rage on this issue is all the confirmation we need to know the story is probably true!

[cdegolier]

Looks like Toby is just another one of Rush Limbaughs "dito-heads".

Same angry crap.
Posted by FBSERVER at 7:43 AM : Apr 7, 2009

Actually, Toby Keith is a Democrat. That's the only thing I don't like about him.

[nmast2383]

Toby Keith is a bully and a hipocrite...

[tomadams99]

Appears to me that Kris Kristofferson has it right! Didn't happen, and it is nonsense.

[nativegurl0861]

Wow, the 'nays' have it. Toby is expected to perfrom at Sturgis this year, wonder who'll be the lucky one to ask him about his pal Ethan.

[wayne1960]

Toby Keith is one of those morons who mistake jingoism for patriotism. He (and his ilk) can't understand that blindly following and supporting whatever your government does, or at least paying lip service to it, is exactly what people in countries run by dictators do.

[PVperson2]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, "Toby Kieth is a *****".

[sunspro]

Toby Keith is a joke who exploits misery. I HOPE that Kris told him off.