Country singer Jason Aldean is met with substantial criticism for his latest track and accompanying music video – and now he is hitting back with a response.
Country singer Jason Aldean has faced significant backlash for his song “Try That in a Small Town,” which has been accused of being ‘racist’ and promoting lynching. After the song’s removal from airwaves, the singer has finally responded to the allegations.
CMT decided to pull the music video for “Try That in a Small Town” due to accusations of racism and pro-lynching sentiments. Aldean has taken to social media to defend himself against these claims, stating that the accusations are not only unfounded but also dangerous.
The music video, shot in front of Maury County Courthouse in Tennessee, sparked controversy as it held historical significance as the site of a lynching incident in the 1920s involving an African-American man named Henry Choate. Some footage in the video showed protesters burning American flags and engaging in confrontations with police officers.
The song’s lyrics include lines like “Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up,” which has intensified the criticism. Various media outlets have referred to the song as “the most contemptible country song of the decade,” while social media users have accused Aldean of promoting racism and bigotry.
Aldean has denied any intentional racial implications in the song, claiming that it merely reflects the sense of community he experienced while growing up. He emphasizes that the song is about longing for a return to a more harmonious society, where headlines of unrest don’t dominate the news.
This isn’t the first time the singer has faced controversy. In the past, he was dropped by his publicity firm after his wife, Brittany Aldean, made transphobic comments on social media. Despite the criticism, Jason Aldean continues with his Highway Desperado tour, although he faced a health setback due to heatstroke.
As the backlash continues, Aldean remains firm in his stance, defending both his song’s intent and his wife’s actions, while acknowledging that political disagreements are prevalent in the country.