I asked him if I could use his band's music for my upcoming gaming podcast, and the conversation basically became "your political opinion and things you've said online are not things I want anywhere near my music". Once he asked if I was a fan of Kyle Rittenhouse, I knew where it was going.

I'm almost all out of friends. Still voting Trump.

Edit: Convo -

Me: "So hypothetically, if i was interested in use of a (Band Name) song for a podcast, who do i talk to? My brother and I are starting up a gaming podcast and are trying to find music to use. We can go royalty-free, but if it's possible to get another avenue of exposure for you I'd like to"

Him: "Ha, Play some Nugent instead !"

Me: "Why would i do that lol. Dude has one too many songs about little girls. Nooo thanks haha"

Him: "Still better than Gary Puckett"

Me: "Quite a bar to set."

(Here's where I let him know I realize what he's doing)

Me: "If the message is kinda "I'd like to keep my music a fair distance from you", it's understandably received. I don't want to jeopardize or compromise your chances at more success. Being that I'm blocked on my personal Instagram page, it isn't that hard to decipher lol"

(Note: His band is already signed and has toured multiple countries and been played on Sirius XM, so they already have a level of success)

Him: "I dont think it would impact it either way as far as success. Yeah if you're trying to pry it out of me the things i've seen you say on the internet are nuts. You insulted many of my friends you don't even know. One person even asked me who you are saying they sent your picture to their cousins."

Me: "Who sent what to who?" (I was confused here because of his last sentence)

Him: "Hard to keep track of how many you got internet tough with. At a certain point it was a liability on me. Telling a girl with one lung "womp womp" Cause she was scared to go back to work at her bar back in April. Who does that? We've known each other a long time. You didnt burn the bridge down but it will be closed for repairs for a while. (This goes back to some friend of his ripping into people not wearing masks because SHE is immunocompromised, so she said she can't go back to work and I said "womp womp". She never revealed what her medical issue was. I was only learning it in this convo.)

Me: "That's your decision. Sorry to hear that. I don't care about people being offended on Facebook because they're too sensitive to understand nobody has to cater to them. Nobody has to change their behavior because a girl is immunocompromised. It's up to her to not put herself in the situation. Why am i wrong in acting as though something that isn't my problem ISN'T my problem?"

Him: "Apply that last sentence to me regarding the gigantic chip on your shoulder"

Me: "There's no chip here. I don't support criminals, rioters, or terrorists. It saddens me to learn you do"

Him: "I'm sorry it's there but you cannot troll my page and my friends. One of these days one of them might catch up with you and that wouldnt be my problem either. I tried to make sure that wouldnt happen. I gotta know Kyle Rittenhouse fan or not?"

Me: "Yep. Defended himself against armed terrorists. You can disagree, but you'd be objectively wrong. Not that it stops people from pushing dumb shit anyway."

Him: (3 emojis - Fire, Bridge, Fire)

Me: "Again, that's on you. Sorry to hear that. Just know that you're voluntarily burning this bridge because you're choosing to put politics over a 33- year- long friendship. I'd hang out with you tomorrow if you asked and wouldn't even think of talking politically... but hey, if the wrong people found out, you'd be canceled for associating with a nazi or a fascist or something, right? Have to cater to the mob to keep your livelihood. I get it."

Him: "You need help i can't give you. I am sorry too but that's it."

Me: "I just hope, honestly, that you and your family remain safe in the increasingly violent and dangerous NYC that you and your friends seem to be perfectly OK with. So it's official, that's it? We stop at 33? Let me know. I don't need a lecture or a patronizing reason behind it. If you're choosing to end our friendship 100%, at least have the respect after 30+ years and tell me it's done."

Him: "Why are you dragging this out? You are an asshole to all my other friends and unhinged behind the surface. Get well maybe we'll talk in 10 years or maybe not."

Me: "Ok."

End convo. If you're interested, DM me for podcast info. I don't want some leftist to find it and cancel it before it starts.

Thanks, guys.

Edit: My son has this guy's name as his middle name, not his first.