Morgan Wallen N-word controversy: Country music star thought it was 'playful', admits mistake
Country music icon Morgan Wallen is facing severe backlash for use of the N-word after a night of partying with his friends. In a video clip obtained by TMZ, the singer can be heard slipping the racist slur, among other abusive words. He appeared to be speaking in an inebriated state as his words appeared slurred, but the use of the offensive word was clearly evident. According to the media outlet, the video was shot by Wallen's neighbor on January 31, 2021, in Nashville.
Wallen appeared on 'Good Morning America' on July 23, 2021, breaking months of silence about the incident. While speaking to Michael Strahan, Wallen said that it was not his intention to use the N-word in a derogatory manner. He further added that he did not think about the word as wrong until the controversy. Wallen remarked that he thought his usage of the N-word was 'playful' but admitted his mistake as ignorant and wrong.
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The 'Wasted On You' hitmaker admitted using the N-word casually at the party while making fun of one of his friends. In the footage, Wallen can be heard saying, "Hey, take care of this p*****a** m*****f***er. Hey, hey (inaudible) take care of this p*****a** [N-word]."
Acknowledging his ignorance about the true meaning of the slur, Wallen said that he now understood the gravity of the same after conversations with Black leaders. He reportedly spent over 30 days in rehab, followed by a lot of thinking and 'soul-searching', to fully understand his mistake. He admitted that he could not understand why the word made Black people upset because he was not in their shoes.
Wallen, who remained away from limelight for months since the N-word scandal, has resumed performing in public recently. Despite the controversy and backlash, Wallen went on to earn nominations and even win prestigious awards during his hiatus from public eye. Though he admitted his mistake on TV, he might have added fodder to the controversy. He reportedly told the host that country music has a race problem but he had not thought about it too much.
