Luke Bryan Explains Why He Hit a Heckler During Nashville Show

Luke Bryan‘s rep has explained why the country music star struck an “insulting” heckler in the face during a Nashville performance on Wednesday.

In a statement made to Entertainment Tonight, the rep said that Bryan stepped off the stage at the Charlie Daniels all-star Volunteer Jam charity concert mid-performance to hit a man sitting in the front row in the face because he was making “crude hand gestures” towards him. According to the rep, the “disruptive” concertgoer’s gestures were insulting to Bryan as well as those sitting near him.

“It was insulting not only to him, but more importantly to the men, women and families sitting around him who were there to support and celebrate Charlie Daniels and the efforts of raising money for the military veterans – some of who were in the audience,” the statement reads. “The concert security personnel saw the man’s disruptive actions of the event and he was escorted out.”

Footage of the incident surfaced online shortly after the concert. A clip, posted to YouTube, showed Bryan stepping down off the stage to hit the man in the face before returning to the stage, microphone still in hand, to continue his performance of his single ‘Move’.

Travis Tritt, Kid Rock and 3 Doors Down were among those who performed at the Charlie Daniels concert, which was raising money to support U.S. veterans.