Country Music Star Uses Racial Slur
Contents
This country music star is in hot water after using a racial slur during a recent performance. Find out what she said and why people are so upset.
Introduction
In recent years, the country music industry has been embroiled in a series of controversies surrounding the use of racial slurs by its stars. The most recent incident occurred when country music star Morgan Wallen used the N-word in a drunken rant caught on tape by a neighbor. The backlash was immediate, with radio stations across the country pulling his music from the airwaves and his record label suspending him indefinitely.
This is just the latest in a string of incidents involving country stars using racial slurs. In 2013, country singer Jason Aldean came under fire for using the N-word in a tweet. And in 2015, country singer Brad Paisley came under fire for using the Confederate flag in his music video for “Accidental Racist.”
The use of racial slurs by country stars is not new, but it has gained new prominence in recent years as the industry has become more diverse. African-American artists have been making inroads into country music for decades, but they have only made up a small percentage of the genre’s stars. That began to change in 2017 when Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” became a crossover hit, topping both the country and pop charts.
The success of “Old Town Road” led to a wave of mainstream attention for other black country artists, including Kane Brown, Margo Price, and Yola. This increased visibility has brought with it increased scrutiny of the genre’s treatment of race.
The controversy surrounding Morgan Wallen is just the latest example of this scrutiny. And it likely won’t be the last.
Country Music Star Uses Racial Slur
Country music singer-songwriter Morgan Wallen is in hot water after a video surfaced of him using a racial slur. Wallen can be heard saying the slur after a night out with friends in Nashville. The video was obtained by TMZ and caused immediate backlash against the musician.
The Incident
Country music star Morgan Wallen is facing backlash after he was heard using a racial slur on camera. The video, which was captured by an onlooker and later obtained by TMZ, shows Wallen using the N-word while talking to friends at his home in Nashville.
Wallen has since issued a statement apologizing for his language, saying that he was “embarrassed and sorry” and that he had “made a mistake.” He also said that he would be taking some time off to “reflect on this.”
This isn’t the first time that Wallen has been in hot water for his behavior. In November, he was suspended from his record label after he was caught on camera partying mask-less amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Reaction
The backlash against the country music star was immediate. Fans took to social media to express their outrage, and some even called for a boycott of his music. The singer issued an apology shortly after the incident, but it did little to quell the angry response.
Many in the country music community also spoke out against the singer, with some even calling for him to be blacklisted from the industry. The reaction was largely negative, and it remains to be seen how this will affect the singer’s career going forward.
Country Music’s History with Racism
Country music has a long and complicated history with racism. The genre was born out of the music of black slaves, but has since been appropriated by white performers. This has led to a lot of controversial moments, such as when country music star used a racial slur onstage.
Country Music’s Racist Past
Racism has been a part of country music from the very beginning. Blackface minstrelsy was popular in the early 1800s, and both black and white performers would don blackface makeup to imitate and mock African Americans. This practice continued well into the 20th century, and even though it eventually died out, its legacy can still be seen in some of country music’s most iconic songs and performers.
The use of racial slurs was also commonplace in country music, both in lyrics and stage names. It wasn’t until the 1950s that black performers began to gain more visibility in the genre, thanks largely to artists like Charley Pride and Mahalia Jackson. However, even as black performers became more visible, they still faced discrimination from fans and fellow musicians.
In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile incidents involving racism in country music. In 2017, country singer Jason Isbell caused controversy when he used a racial slur onstage during a concert. And in 2019, rapper Lil Nas X came under fire for using a Confederate flag in his music video for “Old Town Road.”
Despite these incidents, country music has made significant strides in becoming more inclusive in recent years. In 2015, the Academy of Country Music Awards introduced its first-ever award for best duo or group performance by a minority act. And earlier this year, Darius Rucker became the first black artist to top Billboard’s country chart in over two decades with his single “Wagon Wheel.”
As the genre continues to evolve, only time will tell ifcountry music can completely shake its racist past.
Country Music’s Present Struggle with Racism
In recent years, country music has been grappling with its complicated history with racism.
The genre has long been criticized for its lack of diversity, and accusations of racism have been leveled at both the genre and its performers.
In 2017, country music singer Jason Aldean came under fire for using a racial slur during a concert.
Aldean later issued an apology, saying that he was “sorry for using the word.”
While Aldean’s use of the slur was publicly denounced, it highlights the ongoing struggles that country music has with racism.
Despite the genre’s history, there are many who believe that country music is for everyone.
In recent years, a number of black artists have found success in the genre, including Kane Brown, Darius Rucker, and Maren Morris.
Conclusion
The public response to the statement has been overwhelmingly negative, with many people calling for an apology or for the performer to be dropped from future events. The performer has not yet responded to the backlash.
