Confused fans slam Brooks for wearing No. 20 Sanders jersey

DETROIT — Leave it to the internet to interpret Garth Brooks wearing a Barry Sanders jersey during a concert in Detroit as a political endorsement of a certain liberal presidential candidate.

The more than 70,000 fans who attended the country music star’s Feb. 22 show at Ford Field understood it for what it was: a tribute to one of the greatest NFL running backs and Detroit Lions players ever.

Brooks told the audience that he donned Sanders’ No. 20 jersey to pay homage to him since they both went to Oklahoma

State University.

After the show, Brooks posted a photo on social media of himself wearing the jersey, which has “Sanders” and “20” on the back. That’’s where the trouble started.

Annoyed fans ripped Brooks in the comments sections under the photo, believing he was endorsing Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and the self-proclaimed democratic socialist’s 2020 presidential campaign.

“I had no idea you were a big freaking liberal socialist! I’ve listened to your songs for the last time!” one person wrote.

Another wrote, “If this is for Bernie Sanders, I’m done with you. I thought you were a true American that loves our country.”

There’s no indication of who Brooks supports politically, though he performed at former Democratic President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.

The Hall of Fame running back took it in stride, tweeting his fellow OSU alum, “Hey @garthbrooks, want to be my VP? @Number20For2020.”

Brooks responded in jest, “I would run any race with you! @Number20for2020 HA!!!”