Last week a video of country music’s newest superstar, Morgan Wallen, was released of him using a racial slur outside his Nashville home after a night out with friends.  Since then, the incident has spread all over social media catching the attention of the rest of the country music community.  Wallen was suspended from his record label and his music was removed from county music radio and some streaming services, including i-HeartRadio and Pandora. County Music Television (CMT) also removed all of Wallen’s performances from their platform while releasing a statement on their Twitter account which stated, “We do not tolerate or condone words and actions that are in direct opposition to our core values that celebrate diversity, equity & inclusion.”

Morgan Wallen has since apologized for his actions in an interview with TMZ stated, “I’m embarrassed and sorry.  I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There is no excuse to uses this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word.  I promise to do better.”  This is the only apology Wallen has issued and has posted nothing about the incident on any of his social media platforms.

Wallen’s actions deeply sadden me.  Although I must admit I wasn’t exactly surprised when I heard the news.  This isn’t the first controversial thing Wallen has done this year.  What did surprise me was how some fans reacted to the news. After news of Wallen’s actions spread, fans defended his use of the racial slur on social media.  Posting things like, “If you don’t listen to Morgan Wallen unfriend me.”  And his music sales have surged this week.  His newest album Dangerous: The Double Album has held its spot at the top for the fourth week in a row on the Billboard’s all genera chart.  Not only has the album held steady on the charts but sales of Wallen’s music have increased by 102 per cent, selling 25,000 copies during the week of February 4^th alone, according to the MCR data.

I just can’t understand how some people are not only defending Wallen’s use of a racial slur but actively making sure that he profits from his actions.  His supporters are claiming that since he was caught saying the slur at his own home, he shouldn’t be facing the consequences he is now because he thought he was in private.  So, they’re supporting his music by buying his newest album since he was removed from CMT, and country radio.  What these people fail to understand is that using a racial slur is wrong.  It’s wrong if you say it in public and it’s wrong if you say it in private.  Period.  There is absolutely no defending Morgan Wallen’s actions.  What he did was wrong, and he deserves the consequences that the country music community is giving him. I hope Wallen takes this opportunity to learn and better his mindset instead of accepting that country music fans will just make excuses for his racist behavior.

Article by Marissa Mayfield