Darius Rucker believes it’s time for fans and critics to forgive Morgan Wallen for his use of a racist slur. In a recent interview on Rolling Stone’s Music Now podcast, the Hootie and the Blowfish singer and solo country star expressed his thoughts on Wallen’s controversial past and his journey towards redemption.
Three years ago, Wallen was caught on video repeatedly using the N-word, which led to significant backlash. Rucker, who has known Wallen for a long time, believes the 31-year-old “Last Night” singer has made considerable efforts to better himself since the incident. “I think Morgan’s become a better person since that,” Rucker told Rolling Stone. “Since all that happened, Morgan’s tried to really better himself and see the world in a much better way.”
In February 2021, Wallen was filmed yelling the N-word and other expletives while arriving home with friends. The video quickly went viral, and Wallen issued an apology, stating, “I’m embarrassed and sorry. 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.”
Despite the apology, the immediate fallout was severe. Wallen’s music was temporarily pulled from streaming services and radio stations, his label suspended him, and his booking agent dropped him. Additionally, the Academy of Country Music deemed him ineligible for the 56th annual awards.
However, Wallen’s career eventually rebounded. By the end of 2021, his catalog had generated over $8 million in revenue, and he broke several records on the Billboard charts. His album “Dangerous” won Album of the Year at the 2022 ACM Awards, and he collected 11 trophies at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.
Despite this success, Rucker feels that Wallen is still living under the shadow of his past actions. “You know, he’s not forgiven. He’s still not out for CMAs and ACMs,” Rucker said. “They can say what they want, but the fact that Morgan Wallen is not up for Entertainer of the Year and those things is crazy. No one’s selling more tickets than Morgan.”
Wallen has continued to produce hits, including his No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 smash “I Had Some Help” with Post Malone. However, he recently found himself in hot water again. In April, Wallen was arrested for allegedly throwing a chair off the roof of a Nashville bar, narrowly missing two police officers. He was charged with three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
Following the incident, Wallen posted a tweet apologizing and revealed that he had reached out to Nashville police, his family, and the bar’s crew to make amends. “I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility…. I have the utmost respect for the officers working every day to keep us all safe,” he said.
Rucker’s call for forgiveness comes at a time when Wallen’s career is still thriving despite the controversies. Wallen’s “One Night at a Time Tour” kicked off in April, and his song “Last Night (One Record At A Time Sessions)” was nominated for Male Video of the Year at the CMT Awards.
Rucker’s perspective highlights the complexity of Wallen’s situation. While Wallen has made efforts to improve himself and has seen significant career success, the lingering effects of his past actions continue to impact his standing in the industry. Rucker’s comments suggest that it’s time for the country music community to acknowledge Wallen’s growth and move towards forgiveness.
Source: Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, Entertainment Weekly
