CMT has confirmed that, after initially airing Jason Aldean’s highly controversial music video for “Try That in a Small Town,” the network pulled the controversial clip from the air on Monday, even before the hype over the song escalated on Tuesday. .
A CMT spokesman had no further comment on the video, which was withdrawn. Representatives for Aldean’s record label, BBR Music Group, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Billboard was the first to report that the network removed the video.
Meanwhile, Aldean took to social media Tuesday afternoon to defend the song from its many critics, taking a much softer tone in his messages than in the hostile single itself, or a video projecting images of protesters in a courthouse. which was the site of a famous lynching.
“In the last 24 hours, I have been accused of releasing a song in favor of lynching (a song that has been available since May) and I was the subject of the comparison that I (direct quote) was not very satisfied with the national protests of BLM. These references are not only without merit, but are dangerous,” Aldean wrote.
He continued, “There is not a single lyric in the song that references or points to race, and there is not a single video clip that is not actual news material, and while I can try to respect others to have their own interpretation of a song set to music- this one goes too far. As many have pointed out, I was present on Route 91 where so many lost their lives, and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see meaningless headlines or broken families.”
Aldean tried to paint the song as having a positive attitude towards small towns and downplayed the belligerent threats to outsiders that make up most of the lyrics, not to mention the archival footage of protesters that takes up a good chunk of the song’s runtime. video.
“’Try That In A Small Town,’ for me, refers to the feeling of community I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of origin or beliefs. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any difference. My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from, and I know many of us in this country disagree on how we return to a sense of normalcy where we go at least one day without a headline to hold. us at night. But the desire for him to, that’s what this song is about.”
His tweet with that message did not reassure those who have seen anger toward city dwellers or even racial dog whistles in the video, which was filmed outside a courthouse in Colombia, Tennessee, which is well known for being the scene of a lynching of a black man in the 1920s. Aldean did not address the part of the controversy that has to do specifically with the racially charged location.
While the fate of the video on CMT is decided, it remains to be seen if there will be similar fallout on country radio or if the format will stick behind the already deeply divisive song.
Country Aircheck’s announcement listing on Monday showed the single had been added to 125 stations, which would normally bode well for a big hit. (The most stations reporting adds for any current hit is 156.) It seems to be a huge hit, from that start, though not as strong as Dan + Shay’s “Save Me the Trouble,” which got 134 adds right away. boxing this week and has a clearer path to No. 1.
Variety addressed the Aldean controversy Wednesday in a comment: “Jason Aldean already had the most despicable country song of the decade. The video is worse.”
Aldean’s threats in the song to send a message to anyone who tries to take his guns came as no surprise to anyone who has been aware that the singer has become increasingly outspoken about his conservative political beliefs in recent years. The singer was fired from his advertising company after making a series of statements that included helping to sell children’s anti-Biden clothing and telling his audience that he did not want to see any masks in the audience. He also signed statements from his wife that the LGBTQ+ community considered transphobic.
