Global Courant
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, received a chorus of boos at a concert on his home turf Saturday night.
Brian Kirk, lead singer of Brian Kirk & the Jirks, invited Murphy to the stage, but the moment soon soured at Monmouth County’s Red Rock Tap & Grill, just two miles from the governor’s waterfront mansion.
A video posted to Twitter by Matt Rooney, the founder and editor-in-chief of SaveJersey.com, showed Murphy hugging the band members as the crowd booed.
Kirk broke his hug from Murphy to berate fans.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (Matt Rooney)
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“Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, what did I tell you?” said Kirk, pointing his finger at the crowd.
“Hey, listen to me,” he continued. “Listen to me, he didn’t want to hear that. He’s a friend of mine. This isn’t about politics. He’s a friend of mine. Don’t do that. Out of respect for my friend, don’t do that.” .”
Murphy’s administration imposed multiple restrictions on breweries last year, including limiting food distribution and the number of private events they can host on site. A bipartisan bill passed by both the state assembly and senate last month to lift restrictions is on Murphy’s desk, but he has yet to specify whether he will sign it.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy Murphy arrive for the state dinner honoring South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the White House on April 26, 2023. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
The New Jersey Brewers Association has expressed fears that the ongoing regulations will force breweries out of business or across state lines.
The website of the Red Rock bar, where Murphy was booed, is currently asking for patience from customers due to staff shortages.
“Thanks for your patience,” it says. “Our kitchen is understaffed due to an unprecedented labor shortage in the service industry.”
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Murphy also came under fire last week after signing a bill that gives a huge tax break to Danish offshore wind developer Orsted for the first of two energy projects it plans to place in the waters off the Jersey Shore.
Neither the company nor Democratic lawmakers mentioned the value of the tax break, but a Republican senator, Edward Durr, estimated it at nearly $1 billion.
Former boxer Vladimir Klitschko talks with Governor Phil Murphy at Germany’s Munich security conference, Feb. 19, 2023. (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
The bill’s signing came a day after Orsted’s Ocean Wind I project received approval from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to begin construction of a wind farm 13 to 15 miles offshore from Atlantic City and Ocean City .
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Kirk and Murphy’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jessica Chasmar is a digital writer on the Fox News and Fox Business political team. Story tips can be sent to Jessica.Chasmar@fox.com.
