When Jelly Roll took the stage at the Grammy Awards and boldly thanked Jesus for saving his life, the moment struck a chord with many fans. But it also sparked a wave of online criticism—something his wife, Bunnie Xo, says has been deeply painful to witness.
On a recent episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, the influencer—whose real name is Alisa DeFord—opened up about the backlash her husband has faced since sharing his faith on one of music’s biggest stages. Some critics labeled him a “performative Christian” or accused him of mixing faith with politics after he declared, “Jesus is for everybody.”
For Bunnie Xo, the response revealed a troubling trend. “The problem is that people are weaponizing the Bible and religion way more than they are celebrating the name of Jesus,” she said. “And it’s to the point where they’re just proving why people do not want to be a Christian.”
The couple, married since 2016, have both spoken openly about their past struggles with addiction and brokenness—journeys that make their faith especially personal. Bunnie Xo said seeing people attack her husband’s sincerity has been heartbreaking. “Seeing all of these people online just tearing apart my husband’s walk of faith makes me not want to associate with that type of Christianity,” she admitted. “It’s so horrific, and it is so sad, and it’s borderline demonic.”
Despite the harsh criticism, she emphasized that Jelly Roll’s message was never about pushing religion or telling others what to do. “My husband’s not sitting there saying, ‘You need to go to church…’ He’s not asking for anything,” she said. “All he’s saying is, ‘Hey, Jesus is for everybody. Jesus does not belong to one political party. Jesus loves you.’ And the internet lost their minds.”
Jelly Roll’s Grammy speech itself was raw and deeply personal. Holding up a small Bible, he reflected on his past incarceration and the turning point that led him toward faith and music. “There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big and a radio the same size and a 6-by-8-foot cell,” he told the audience. “And I believe that those two things could change my life. I believe that music had the power to change my life. And God had the power to change my life.”
The singer, who won three awards that night, including Best Contemporary Country Album, also spoke candidly about how close he once came to self-destruction. “I would have never changed my life without you,” he said, addressing both God and his wife. “I’d have ended up dead or in jail. I’d have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus.”
His closing words captured the heart of his message: “Jesus is for everybody… anybody can have a relationship with Him. I love you, Lord.”
For many believers, the moment was a powerful testimony of redemption on a global stage. For Bunnie Xo, it was also a reminder that faith journeys are often misunderstood—especially when shared publicly. Still, she says she’s choosing grace in response. Even as criticism continues, the couple’s story stands as a visible example of transformation—one they hope points others toward the same hope they found.