Oliver Anthony slams corporate news for painting him as a Joe Biden supporter, clarifies he’s against all corporate-owned politicians

On Friday Oliver Anthony, the singer known for his hit anthem Rich Men North of Richmond, addressed rumors put out by "corporate news" that he is a Joe Biden supporter after he posted a video roasting Fox News and GOP candidates for talking about his song at Wednesday's debate as well as trying to identify with him.

In a statement on Instagram, Anthony said this would be his last post about politics on social media but a quote from his video had "been misquoted/misinterpreted." That "Corporate news (big surprise) is now trying to twist me into being a Biden Supporter." 

"Rich Men North of Richmond is about corporate-owned DC politicians on both sides," He continued. "Though Biden's most certainly a problem, the lyrics aren't exclusively knocking Biden, it's bigger and broader than that." 

"It's knocking the system collectively. Including the corporate-owned conservative politicians that were on the stage that night," Anthony concluded. 

During the debate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis bashed "Bidenomics" when asked about why "Rich Men North of Richmond” is striking a chord with Americans. In a video on Friday, Anthony said, “It was funny seeing my song at the presidential debate because I wrote that song about those people, you know. So for them to have to sit there and listen to that, that cracks me up."

"That song has nothing to do with Joe Biden. It’s a lot bigger than Joe Biden. That song is written about the people on that stage, and a lot more, too. Not just them, but definitely them,” he added. 

After Anthony posted the video corporate media sites pushed to make it seem like he had "condemned" Republicans, as The Guardian put it, after they played and reacted to his song in the debate. Variety said he was clarifying his politics in the video and said he addressed the "GOP Debate Question" by saying "‘Rich Men’ Is ‘Written About the People on That Stage," not that he was addressing politicians on both sides. Similar coverage could be observed from The New York Times. 

During the video, he noted that he hates seeing the song being "weaponized." He added, "I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own and I see the left trying to trying to discredit me, I guess in retaliation."

Rich Men North of Richmond, which debuted this week at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, discusses the struggle of the working class while politicians in and around Washington, DC, push them around. Anthony has said it's "aggravating seeing certain musicians and politicians act like we’re buddies" and "act like we’re fighting the same struggle here."