Conservative Country Music Star, Jason Aldean, Got Backlash For His New Song

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Country music star Jason Aldean 's latest music video for “Try That In A Small Town," lasted just one weekend on Country Music Television before the network pulled it in response to an outcry over historically charged references.

In the video, Aldean — who has been awarded county music artist of the decade by the Academy of Country Music — performs in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. This is the site of the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate. 

Aldean's video, which was released last Friday, has received fervent criticism online, with some claiming the visual is a “dog whistle” and others labeling it “pro-lynching.”

Interspersed between performance footage of Aldean are news clips of violent riots and flag burning. A Fox News chyron reads: “State of emergency declared in Georgia." 

“Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough,” Aldean, who is from Macon, Georgia, sings. "Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that **** might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town."

Aldean has long identified as conservative, and has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump. 

The video and its subsequent removal from CMT quickly blew up into one of the periodic culture war clashes, with several conservative figures speaking out in favor of Aldean — including Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Colorado Republican firebrand, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert.

This isn't the first time Aldean has been at the center of controversy. In 2015, he made headlines for dressing as rapper Lil Wayne as a Halloween costume, wearing blackface makeup and a wig with dreadlocks.

And in 2017, the country singer was on stage at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Over the years, Aldean has given conflicting statements about his stance on U.S. gun laws, though his music celebrates gun ownership.

“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests," Aldean said on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. "These references are not only meritless, but dangerous."

“My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from” and that the song is about a desire to “get back to a sense of normalcy,” he wrote on Twitter.

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/jason-aldeans-music-video-criticized-pro-lynching-reference-101503754

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Sheryl Crow have responded

 

 

[Natalia Kills 377]

While I don’t agree with the message, I don’t this see as something to remove. It’s ultimately a form of artistic expression and is a social reflection of the culture wars.

Canceling it just adds fuel to the fire, it’s proving the artists point. Its better to look at why this song exists and what could that tell us about social divisions and how we can bridge the gaps. 

[ALGAYDO 30,341]

Where’s cancel culture when you need it 

JK, there’s no such thing, but it should be a thing for artists like him 

[Gagaism 10,067]

As somebody said in another topic the other day we should just not give these people the stage, that’s exactly what they want for the views. It’s 2023 and common sense unfortunately is not for everyone. 

[En_Sabah_Nur 9,356]

…and now BOTH the Song & Music Video are currently number 1 on U.S. iTunes!!!  SMFH …and some people on here say that Racism isn’t that big of a deal anymore, nowadays…SMH