18 July 2023 , 20:33
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Jason Aldean has released a statement on Instagram following backlash over his song Try That In A Small Town.
The country singer has been accused of having "pro-lynching" lyrics in his song. The song was released in May but last Friday the music video premiered.
Following its release, many people took to social media to note the hateful undertones of his song. One Twitter user wrote: "Try coming to my small town and sharing your backward views and hateful rhetoric. See how far you make it down the road, you plastic cowboy."
Twitter users pointed out that Aldean, from Macron, Georgia, isn't really from a "small town" like the one he sings about. "He has no idea what happens in a small town, he’s just a racist who writes barely concealed lynching songs," another Twitter user wrote.
Jason took to Instagram to slam the accusations, writing on his story: "There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it."
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He added he "was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests". This refers to his music video showing protesters going up to police, setting smoke bombs off, and looting.
Aldean took to Instagram to slam back against the accusations (FilmMagic)"Cuss out a cop," Aldean sings in the first verse, "Spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough / Try that in a small town."
Some have compared the song to a war cry, saying that his lyrics are 'pro-lynching' and that he's supportive of the "good ol' boys, raised up right" in small conservative towns that he sings about.
When Aldean released the song, he took to Twitter to write: "When u grow up in a small town, it’s that unspoken rule of 'we all have each other’s backs and we look out for each other.' It feels like somewhere along the way, that sense of community and respect has gotten lost. Deep down we are all ready to get back to that."
Aldean claims that his song Try That In A Small Town is not pro-lynching (Getty Images for SiriusXM)He continues: "Got a gun that my granddad gave me/They say one day they're gonna round up/Well, that s**t might fly in the city, good luck," many viewed this as a right-wing call to arms.
Aldean attempted to rebuff this by saying in his Instagram statement: "I was present at Route 91-where so many lost their loves-and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy." The Route 91 tragedy he is referring to is the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting where 60 people lost their lives in a tragic shooting. Aldean was playing the closing set when the gunman opened fire.
"NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart," he continued.
"Try That In A Small Town, for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbours, regardless of differences of background or belief," he said in his statement.
"My political views have never been something I've hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this country don't agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to - that's what this song is about."