Country music artist Morgan Wallen has been suspended “indefinitely” by his label Big Loud Records. The decision was announced in a statement shared by Big Loud and Wallen’s distributor Republic Records, and comes after Wallen was recorded using the n-word on Tuesday night in Nashville.
— Big Loud (@BigLoud) February 3, 2021
— Republic Records (@RepublicRecords) February 3, 2021
Wallen’s music has also been removed from the airwaves by CMT and iHeartMedia. “In light of Morgan Wallen’s recent actions involving the use of a racial slur, we have made the decision to remove his music and content from our stations effective immediately,” iHeartMedia said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press.
Wallen apologized in a statement to TMZ after the site shared the video. “I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back,” he said. “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.”
While Wallen’s comments were condemned by a number of country music artists, Black country singer Mickey Guyton dismissed those who claimed they were not representative of country music culture. “When I read comments saying ‘this is not who we are,'” she wrote, “I laugh because this is exactly who country music is. I’ve witnessed it for 10 gd years. You guys should just read some of the vile comments hurled at me on a daily basis.”
When I read comments saying “this is not who we are” I laugh because this is exactly who country music is. I’ve witnessed it for 10 gd years. You guys should just read some of the vile comments hurled at me on a daily basis. It’s a cold hard truth to face but it is the truth. pic.twitter.com/l3h18Z1ARU — Mickey Guyton (@MickeyGuyton) February 3, 2021
Morgan Wallen’s record deal suspended “indefinitely” following racist remarks
Morgan Wallen. Photo by John Shearer.