Britt Jones
Jason Aldean's music video for 'Try That in a Small Town' has been pulled after he was accused of releasing a 'pro-lynching song'.
The country singer, who is also known for his song 'Don't You Wanna Stay', has received some criticism for his most recent song.
The New York Times reported that Country Music Television had pulled the 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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The 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'.
And Mississippi Free Press news editor, Ashton Pittman, also referenced the decision to film at the courthouse, describing it as where a 'white lynch mob strung Henry Choate up at the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tenn., after dragging his body through the streets with a car in 1927'.
"That's where Aldean chose to sing about murdering people who don't respect police." he said.
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.”
Referencing being on stage at Route 91 in 2017 where a gunman killed 58 people from a hotel room, he added: "And so many pointed out, I was present at 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 senseless headlines or families ripped apart."
"Try That In A Small Town, for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief," Aldean further explained.
"Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences."
Country Music Television confirmed to Billboard in an email that they had removed the video, but didn't reveal the reason why.
UNILAD has reached out to BBR Music Group, who represents Aldean, for comment.