Anish Vij
Jason Aldean has blasted 'cancel culture' after receiving criticism for his song, 'Try That in a Small Town'.
The country singer has received criticism for his most recent track and has been accused by some of releasing a 'pro-lynching song'.
Country Music Television reportedly pulled the music video, which was filmed at Maury County Courthouse in Columbia where an 18-year-old black man was lynched, and after accusations that the song's lyrics and message were offensive, which Aldean has denied.
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Watch below as Aldean slams 'cancel culture' at his gig on Friday:
The music video, which was released in May, also shows Aldean in front of an American flag while he sings about big city behaviour that wouldn't be well-received in a small town, like 'car-jacking an old lady', 'pull out a gun on the owner of a liquor store' and 'cussing out a cop'.
Justin Jones, state Representative of Tennessee, described it as a 'heinous song calling for racist violence'.
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Taking to Twitter to respond to the accusations, Aldean said: "In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests.
"These references are not only meritless, but dangerous."
He continued: "There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.”
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And during a Friday concert in Cincinnati, Ohio, the singer further addressed the situation, telling the crowd: "I've seen a lot of stuff suggesting I'm this, suggesting I'm that.
"Hey, here's the thing, here's the thing: here's one thing I feel. I feel like everybody's entitled to their opinion.
"You can think, you can think something all you want to, it doesn't mean it's true, right? So what I am is a proud American, proud to be from here."
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Aldean also blasted 'cancel culture', adding: "I know a lot of you guys grew up like I did.
"You kind of have the same values, the same principles that I have, which is we want to take our kids to a movie and not worry about some a**hole coming in there shooting up the theater.
"So somebody asked me, 'Hey man, you think you're going to play this song tonight?' The answer was simple. The people have spoken and you guys spoke very, very loudly this week."
UNILAD has reached out to BBR Music Group, who represents Aldean, for comment.