A right-wing festival headlined by Kid Rock and Dog the Bounty Hunter has been canceled.
This year's Freedom Fest, the Northern Kentucky MAGA gathering known for drawing thousands of attendees and A-list conservative speakers, has been called off entirely just days ahead of its scheduled start on Saturday, according to organizer Eric Deters, reported the Cincinnati Enquirer.
"I am never ever, ever, ever, ever doing this event again – ever," Deters announced Monday in a video posted on his Facebook page.
The event, held annually at Deters' Morning View farm about 25 miles south of Cincinnati, has previously featured live music, food trucks, fireworks and children's entertainment alongside a lineup of prominent conservative figures, including Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Candace Owens in past years.
Deters has described it as "the best MAGA event, no question." This year's planned speakers included Kid Rock, Dog the Bounty Hunter, U.S. Rep. James Comer, Fox News contributor Joe Concha and Kentucky Republican Ed Gallrein.
Deters said his budget for the event depended heavily on a small circle of wealthy contacts purchasing $1,000 VIP tickets, and not enough of those sold to pull off the event.
"When I put together Patriots Day Freedom Fest, I put it together with the game plan and the idea that I could pay for it with VIP sales of $1,000 from these 100 people that I interact with on a regular basis," he said.
Only six of those tickets ultimately sold.
Deters, a polarizing figure in Northern Kentucky's political and legal circles, didn't hide his frustration with the donors he'd counted on.
"Rank-and-file Americans are the backbone of this country, (from) both political parties," he said. "I want to tell you something, rich people, as a whole, suck."
Despite the setback, Deters signaled he isn't stepping back from public life. He continues to host "The Eric Deters Show" across YouTube and social media, and pointed to his existing audience as leverage for future efforts.
"With 600,000 followers and 50 million views a month," Deters said, "I know I've got some power and I will use that power for good and I will use that power for the people."