Mike Blake/Reuters
Digging in the heels of his cowboy boots on Tuesday, country singer Jason Aldean defended his controversial song “Try That in a Small Town” and its accompanying music video from critics who have accused it of promoting gun violence, lashing out at the Black Lives Matter movement, and fetishizing sundown towns.
In a statement posted to social media, Aldean noted, “In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song … and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests.”
He went on to rail against the allegations as “not only meritless, but dangerous,” insisting, “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.”