Jason Aldean has spoken out against “meritless” and “dangerous” accusations following the release of the music video for his single “Try That In a Small Town.”
Jason Aldean‘s “Try That In a Small Town” was released as a single in May. While it drew criticism at the time, the new release of the accompanying music video elicited a new wave of backlash due to the scenes depicted in the video and the filming location.
Critics claim that the song and video promote gun violence and condemns the Black Lives Matter movement. Many who oppose Aldean’s conservative political stand made bold accusations against the singer, including claims that “Try That In a Small Town” is a “modern lynching song.”
Those claims are due in part to the video reportedly being filmed in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where numerous incidents of racially motivated violence took place a century ago.
Variety‘s chief music critic, Chris Willman, called the song “the most contemptible country song of the decade,” and said “the video is worse.” Willman also said that the song is a call of “vigilanteism” and “won’t come within a country mile of being nominated for anything.”
Backlash over “Try That In a Small Town”, fueled by left-wing media, reached a peak this week as CMT pulled the video from its lineup. It had been airing regularly on the channel since its release Friday.
In a statement posted to social media Tuesday (July 18), Aldean addressed the criticism and defended the song, saying that the accusations “are not only meritless, but dangerous.”
“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,” Aldean wrote. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. 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.”
Jason went on to explain that the song lyrics reflect a feeling of community and a desire to put an end to “senseless headlines” and families torn apart by violence and tragedy. He also addressed his political views, saying that he has never hidden where he stands on issues.
“I know that a lot of us in this Country don’t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to- that’s what this song is about,” Aldean concluded.
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.…
— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023
Those in support of Jason Aldean are calling for a boycott of CMT after it chose to pull the video for “Try That In a Small Town.”
One commenter wrote, “CMT just canceled Jason Aldean‘s music video… about “the summer of love”. Now it’s time to cancel CMT just like we did Bud Light. Speak up and lets make this happen!”
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Another wrote, “To CMT, who pulled Jason Aldean‘s song, there are a lot of us out there who feel the same way. We are not going to bow to the liberals, no matter how hard they cry.”
“Time to give CMT the Bud Light treatment,” another added.
SEE THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR JASON ALDEAN’S “TRY THAT IN A SMALL TOWN” BELOW.