Morgan Wallen broke his silence, eight days after a video appeared showing him using the word with N. He says that moment came at the end of a 72-hour break, and in a video message for fans posted the night of Wednesday (February 10), Wallen apologizes and gives an update on what he is doing to change. He also asks those who have defended him to stop doing so.
The emotional appeal on social media reveals that Wallen has been sober for nine days and sees his relationship with alcohol as toxic to the man he is trying to be. On the other hand, he is proud of who he is when he is sober, but acknowledges that he disappointed his family, friends and professional staff – as well as his fans – the night the video was recorded. He specifically calls his parents and young son, Indie, people he has disappointed.
“I thank those who still see something in me and defend me,” said Wallen near the end of the five-minute video, “But for today, please don’t do this. I was wrong. It is up to me to take this on and I fully accept all the penalties that I will face. “
Wallen, wearing a brown vest over a gray long-sleeved T-shirt, appears to be reading the notes prepared in this video, as he did when apologizing to fans after being forced out. Saturday Night Live in October, after a weekend of unmasked parties during the COVID-19 pandemic. He begins by explaining that his apology to TMZ – who released his video using the racist insult on February 2 – was inappropriate, partly because he had a short time after being informed of it, and partly because only part of his apology has been published.
Words are important, says Wallen. Later, he repeats that he takes full responsibility for his actions and will accept the consequences.
“There is no reason to minimize what I did,” reflects Wallen. “It is important, although I am choosing my next steps carefully.”
Wallen’s statement does not include any specific way he plans to make changes or how the next few weeks will go. He indicates that he will take time out of the spotlight again and will decide when the time is right to return.
“I want my family, my team, my friends and even strangers to trust me,” says the 27-year-old.
Several black executives and leaders offered to speak to Wallen, and perhaps even offer guidance – invitations that Wallen says he “was too nervous to accept”.
“The same people I hurt, they had every right to step on my neck while I was down, not to show me any fun. But they did the exact opposite.”
Wallen’s video using the N word was filmed by one of Wallen’s neighbors on the night of January 31. In sharing that the video was made “at 72 hours of 72 from a bender”, Wallen suggests something similar to a drinking problem for the first time.
After 24 hours of TMZ history, Wallen lost his scheduling agent and was pulled from a country radio, in addition to being included in digital streaming playlists. The outcry of country fans was immediate, but divided, with some saying the consequences were more serious than their actions, calling it another example of a culture of cancellation.
Big Loud Records suspended Wallen’s recording contract as well, but his music is still available in the same places it was before. Her new album spent the fourth consecutive week at number one Advertising panel 200 last week – an indication that fans were not united in anger and disgust.
Wallen’s next professional appointment is on June 3 at the Tailgate N ‘Tallboys Festival in Illinois. He was previously linked to Luke Bryan’s summer tour, but it is unclear whether these dates will continue as planned.
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