Kacey Musgraves Calls Christopher Columbus a 'Loser' in Onstage Rant

Country music star Kacey Musgraves used her platform on Sunday to criticize Christopher Columbus, calling the explorer a "loser" during a concert in Dallas, Texas. The impromptu speech occurred on Indigenous Peoples' Day, a holiday that in recent years has increasingly been observed alongside or in place of Columbus Day.

"Obviously, f ** Columbus. Literally the lamest person to probably ever exist. Like for real. What a loser. What a loser Christopher Columbus, we hate you!" Musgraves, 38, told the audience at the American Airlines Center as part of her "Middle of Nowhere" tour. The singer, clad in a sparkly leotard and cowboy hat, was responding to concertgoers who shouted "Indigenous Peoples' Day!" when she asked what day it was.

Columbus Day is traditionally celebrated to honor the Italian explorer's 1492 journey to the Americas. However, the holiday has faced growing criticism for its association with the colonization and mistreatment of Indigenous peoples. In 2021, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation establishing Indigenous Peoples' Day as a federal holiday, with many states and cities now observing it on the second Monday in October, the same day as Columbus Day.

The singer's remarks prompted a range of reactions from fans. Some praised Musgraves for her outspokenness, with one social media user writing, "Kacey Musgraves you are exactly you who you think you are! She came on stage shouted out the girls and gays, yelled ‘f**k Christopher Columbus!’ uplifted Mexico/sang in Spanish and brought out a mariachi band, told the crowd her music is for everyone and gave TX some hope."

Others criticized her comments, questioning her historical knowledge and suggesting entertainers should refrain from political commentary. One commenter stated, "No Columbus, no ocean crossing, no America for a Texas girl to get rich singing in. The lamest man to ever exist is the whole reason Kacey Musgraves has a stage to curse him from."

This incident follows a recent public exchange between Musgraves and former Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem. The feud began when Noem endorsed a conservative Senate hopeful over a Democratic candidate who had attended Musgraves's concert. Musgraves responded to Noem's jab by referencing the governor's controversial admission of shooting her dog. Noem had defended the action, stating it was a difficult but necessary decision made on her farm.

Columbus, born in Genoa in 1451, is credited by many with opening the path to the Americas for European exploration, though his expeditions were also marked by the abduction and enslavement of Indigenous populations.