Zac Brown Lays Off Crew, Pleads For Americans To Stay Home

Zac Brown was forced to make the tough decision to let go of the majority of his band and crew members due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a video shared on his social media, Brown explained how and why the decision was made with tears in his eyes and a plea to the American people.

"It was a hard day today. For the last 15 years, my crew who I carry with me out on the road to play my shows and do what we do, I've had to let go of about 90 percent of my family, the people that I traveled with and grew my business with, the people I high five on the way out to the stage the people that have done their jobs and done them well," he explains in the video. "I hate having to make this call but I can't generate out there and I can't tour because of the coronavirus. And everyone's safety."

The decision was made just several days after Zac Brown Band postponed the spring 2020 leg of the "The Owl Tour." Brown went on to plea with the American people to take the virus more seriously and do their part.

"The longer that America doesn’t take this seriously and doesn’t stay in and try to contain this, the longer everyone’s going to be out of jobs, the longer that we will be pushed into this recession that we’re all about to enter into," he says. "The sickness has just begun here, it’s just started to rear its head, so you need to wake up. You need to stay indoors and try to socially distance yourself and stay inside."

Brown also calls attention to the government, expressing his total disappointment in how America's leaders have handled the crisis.

"We’re late to the game. I’m pretty ashamed of the way that our leadership has handled all of this," he continues. "I’m pretty ashamed of a lot of things. We can’t rely on our government to tell people what they need to do. We have to decide for ourselves as Americans and we have to look out for the future of all of our jobs and for the economy and for each other."

In conclusion Brown insists that America "can heal from this" if each individual does their part. "If we’re going to get back to doing whatever we were doing before this hit, everyone’s got to take this seriously."

At this time, health officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed more than 10,400 cases of the coronavirus in the United States and 150 deaths. Globally, the virus has infected more than 207,800 people and killed more than 8,600 according to the World Health Organization.

To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Photo: Getty Images