Country star Jason Aldean is standing his ground in the face of criticism over his latest music video, titled “Try That in a Small Town.” The video has been accused of having racist and “pro-lynching” connotations. Addressing the controversy during a performance in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aldean expressed that he believes everyone is entitled to their opinion but reminded the audience that opinions do not necessarily reflect the truth. The crowd responded with cheers as the singer declared his pride in being an American and expressed his desire to see the country restored to its former state. Aldean then proceeded to address the backlash before performing the contentious song.
The Controversial Music Video
The music video, released the previous week, features Aldean singing in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, with an American flag draped over the building. The video projects images of protesters confronting police officers and burning American flags onto the courthouse. Aldean, who did not write the song’s lyrics himself, sings the controversial lines, including, “Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough / Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road.”
Critics and fans quickly took to social media to point out the historical significance of the location. The courthouse where Aldean performed is the same place where an 18-year-old African-American man named Henry Choate was lynched in the 1920s. However, Aldean defended the song and video, stating that there is no mention of race in the lyrics and that the accusations against him are baseless and dangerous.
Backlash and Criticism
Despite Aldean’s defense, Variety magazine labeled the song as “the most contemptible country song of the decade,” and social media users accused him of promoting violence. The hosts of “The View” also weighed in on the controversy, questioning the song’s message and its connection to the Black Lives Matter movement. Whoopi Goldberg expressed her concern that the video failed to acknowledge the efforts of Black Lives Matter protesters in taking care of their communities.
This is not the first time that Aldean and his wife, Brittany Aldean, have faced backlash for their views. In September 2022, Jason Aldean’s longtime publicity firm dropped him after Brittany made transphobic comments on Instagram. She thanked her parents for not allowing her to change her gender during her “tomboy phase” as a child. Jason defended his wife’s comments at the time, which drew significant criticism.
Jason Aldean remains steadfast in his defense of his controversial music video despite facing backlash and accusations of promoting violence. The singer asserts that the song does not contain any references to race and emphasizes that opinions should not be mistaken for truth. The ongoing controversy surrounding the video has sparked discussions about the song’s message and its connection to historical events.