Country Music's Bad Boy Continues His Reign of Terror
Morgan Wallen strikes again
Morgan Wallen first graced our ears with his crooning when he competed on NBC’s The Voice in 2014, followed by the release of his smash hit “Whiskey Glasses” in 2018. The country singer, who won Billboard Music Award for Top Country Male Artist in back-to-back years (2021 and 2022) has quickly made a name for himself in the industry for both his talent and unruly behavior.
Last night, Wallen unceremoniously canceled his show in Oxford, Mississippi mere minutes before the start time. Nearly 60,000 fans gathered in Ole Miss’s Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, awaiting the headliner when a message appeared on the stage screens:
“Ladies & gentlemen, unfortunately Morgan has lost his voice and is unable to perform tonight – therefore tonight’s show has been cancelled. Please make your way safely to the stadium exits. Refunds for tonights event will be available at point of purchase.”
On his Instagram story, Wallen posted a message of his own:
“After last night’s show I started losing my voice so I spent the day resting up, talking to my doctor and working through my vocal exercises trying to get better. I really thought I’d be able to take the stage and it kills me to deliver this so close to showtime, but my voice is shot and I am unable to sing. All tickets will be refunded at point of purchase. I am so sorry, I promise you guys I tried everything I could.”
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Lots of fans were infuriated by the last-minute cancelation, calling the move “complete bullshit.” Others saw it as a sense of justice for a fan base that has stuck by Wallen through his problematic past. Let’s take a look.
Getting axed by SNL for violating COVID protocol
You may remember Saturday Night Live replacing him at the musical guest last minute in October 2020 for violating the network’s COVID safety policies. The night before his would-be performance, videos spread around TikTok of Wallen in Tuscaloosa, partying with the University of Alabama students and kissing several fans on the mouth. The news came less than three months after Wallen’s son was born. Wallen was slated to be the musical guest for the second episode of the season, hosted by comedian Bill Burr, which was only the second performance with an audience since the start of the pandemic.
In a since-deleted video posted to his Instagram, Wallen said he respected the show’s decision and apologized to fans, saying, “I wish I could have made country music and my fans proud this Saturday.” He added, “I think I’ve lost myself a little bit. I’ve tried to find joy in the wrong places, and I don’t know—it’s left me with less joy.”
Wallen went on to appear in a later episode of SNL, where he mocked himself in a sketch, set in the Tuscaloosa bar, Innisfree, (A bar I know well), alongside Jason Bateman and Bowen Yang.
Using the N-word
In early February 2021, doorbell footage circulated online in which Wallen was seen returning back to his Nashville abode after a wild night out with friends. As he starts toward his house, he turns and yells to a friend, "Take care of this "p****-ass mother******,” and then, "take care of this p****-ass n*****," before disappearing into the house.
“I am embarrassed and sorry,” Wallen said in his apology. “I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better.”
While the industry attempted to hold him accountable: His contract with his Big Loud Records was suspended, his booking agent dropped him, his music was blacked out on radio stations, he was banned from award shows and criticized by fellow artists. Despite this, country music fans sent his album sales soaring, increasing 1,220% according to Rolling Stone.
Will jilting 60,000 awaiting fans be the straw that breaks Morgan Wallen’s career’s back, or do we have a Country Music Justin Bieber on our hands? You be the judge.