Darius Rucker Racist Tweet: 'Wagon Wheel' Singer 'Absolutely Shocked' By Twitter Post, Responds to Haters

Former Hootie and the Blowfish front man Darius Rucker has faced a lot of issues ever since he decided to join the country music scene. Being an African American performer in a predominately white genre, race issues have often come up but Rucker has since put many critics to rest with the success of his career. Unfortunately his race is still a sore spot for some country music fans out there. Most recently, on Twitter user let the 47-year-old singer know just how he feels about his presence in the mostly Caucasian industry. Rucker even took some time to respond to the tweet.

Here is the Twitter exchange:

“@pqkullman: @dariusrucker Leave country to the white folk”. WOW. Is this 2013 or 1913

— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) May 19, 2013

“@pqkullman: @dariusrucker Leave country to the white folk”. Ill take my grand ole Opry membership and leave your racism. Wow — Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) May 19, 2013

Gotta go to bed this has been hilarious tonight. If any hater thinks I care what u think. I don't make music for u. So don't listen.

— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) May 20, 2013

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Rucker explained, "I was absolutely shocked. Sometimes people will say, 'You're not country,' and I know what that means, because they can't be talking about the music. But when somebody says to leave country music to the white folks, that is unbelievable to me... But that's life. That's something that I'm going to have to deal with the rest of my career, because I'm a black guy in country music and there are people who don't like that. But it's not going to make me quit."

Rucker also shared another story about race and country music with the publication, but this time it was more pleasant. He said, "I was in Walmart about three weeks ago, and this older gentleman came up to me and told me how much he loves 'Wagon Wheel.' He said, 'You know what's funny? That the black guy has the country-est song on country radio!'"