Bubba Watson: I'm Painting Over the General Lee

Golfer to paint American flag over Confederate flag on 'Dukes of Hazzard' car
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 3, 2015 10:49 AM CDT
Bubba Watson: I'm Painting Over the General Lee
Golfer Bubba Watson drives off in the General Lee after playing at the Phoenix Open golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course in Scottsdale, Ariz., Feb. 1, 2012.   (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Rob Schumacher)

One of the casualties in the Confederate flag controversy has been The Dukes of Hazzard. First TV Land pulled reruns of the early-'80s show from its lineup, and now golfer Bubba Watson, who bought the General Lee at auction in 2012, says he's giving it a new paint job—one that will rid the iconic car of its rooftop Confederate flag, per PNJ Sports Reporter. "All men ARE created equal, I believe that so I will be painting the American flag over the roof of the General Lee #USA," he posted on Twitter yesterday. Watson, who got the car autographed in January by actor John Schneider, who played Bo Duke on the show, apparently didn't have a problem with the Confederate symbol right after he purchased the car for $110,000, tweeting in April 2012: "Sorry to all that are offended by my car 'General Lee 1' but car is #Awesome."

Reaction on social media to his change of heart has been mixed. One commenter asks Watson: "why didn't you do it the first day you bought it if you believe that so much?," to which another replies, "He doesn't. He's caving in to the liberal media." An exasperated third commenter notes, "dude - accept the progress." Another person who may not be happy with Watson's decision: Schneider, who blasted TV Land for pulling the DOH episodes in a YouTube post on Wednesday. (No more Confederate flags at NASCAR races, either.)

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