Jason Aldean Controversy: He ‘Stands By’ His Track “Attempt That In A Small City”

October 2023: Jason Aldean responds to racism controversy

Throughout an interview with CBS Mornings with Jan Crawford, Aldean mentioned he “stands by” all the alternatives he made in writing the improper and selecting the situation for the controversial video clip. “I might do it over once more each time,” he mentioned. “I like the track. I used to be excited to chop it and thought it was truly a track that mentioned one thing for a change, not simply right here’s one other track for radio. I didn’t anticipate it to get the type of warmth that it acquired, and I feel that was due to the video extra so than the precise track.”

He continued: “For anyone that thinks that we picked that constructing particularly for that motive, as a result of there was a lynching there or no matter,” earlier than Crawford requested if he was conscious of the constructing’s historical past. “No, however I additionally don’t return 100 years and test on the historical past of a spot earlier than we go shoot it both. It’s additionally the place I get my automotive tags yearly. It’s my county that I reside in,” he mentioned. 

“The entire thought behind the video was to indicate, you already know, the lawlessness and the disrespect for cops and simply, you already know, trashing cities and burning—I’m simply not cool with that,” Aldean mentioned. “It simply — I don’t know, I really feel just like the narrative acquired switched over and have become extra of a racial-type factor. It’s like if that’s what you bought out of the track and the video, I imply, I virtually really feel like that’s on you as a result of that wasn’t our intention.” 

July 2023: “Attempt That in a Small City” will get pulled from CMT

The track “Attempt That in a Small City” is launched in Might 2023 and flew largely below the radar till July, with the discharge of its accompanying music video that depicts protestors as violent and lawless. CMT pulled the clip from its rotation and music followers world wide slammed Jason Aldean, claiming he was inciting violence.

Aldean dismissed the criticism, saying in a press release revealed to Instagram: “Previously 24 hours I’ve been accused of releasing a pro-lynching track (a track that has been out since Might) and was topic to the comparability that I (direct quote) was not too happy with the nationwide BLM protests,” he tweeted. “These references are usually not solely meritless, however harmful. There may be not a single lyric within the track that references race or factors to it – and there isn’t a single clip that isn’t actual information footage – and whereas I can try to respect others to have their very own interpretation of a track with music – this one goes too far.”

He added: “Attempt That In A Small City, for me, refers back to the feeling of a group that I had rising up, the place we took care of our neighbors, no matter variations of background or perception. As a result of they have been our neighbors, and that was above any variations. My political beliefs have by no means been one thing I’ve hidden from, and I do know that loads of us on this nation don’t agree on how we get again to a way of normalcy the place we go no less than someday with no headline that retains us up at evening. However the want for it to – that’s what this track is about.”

This didn’t fly with another music stars, although. “I’m from a small city,” Sheryl Crow wrote on Twitter. “Even folks in small cities are sick of violence. There’s nothing small-town or American about selling violence. You need to know that higher than anybody having survived a mass taking pictures. This isn’t American or small town-like. It’s simply lame.”

Mayor Chaz Molder of Columbia, the place the clip was filmed, advised native information station FOX 17 that whereas he respects Aldean’s “freedom of his personal lyrics,” he hopes the subsequent music video filmed in his city will “search a extra constructive message.” He continued: “Like many small cities throughout America, Columbia, Tennessee is targeted on bringing folks collectively. I hadn’t listened to the track previous to right this moment, however I’ve now seen the video.”