(New York Post) Jason Aldean, 46, has become embroiled in controversy after the release of his newest music video, “Try That in a Small Town,” as his defenders claim he’s the latest victim of cancel culture.
The conservative country star is facing accusations that his latest single and music video encourages racist, pro-gun violence, pro-vigilantism and pro-lynching messages while others, including the artist himself, claim the song spreads the message that small towns don’t put up with the same levels of crime and chaos that big cities do.
Country Music Television (CMT) pulled the controversial song from its rotation on Tuesday but ABC allowed the song to remain on the set list as part of its CMA Fest concert special Wednesday.
Consumers’ Research, a nonprofit organization that aims to educate and protect consumers from harmful products, issued a “Woke Alert” urging CMT to “focus on playing that good old-fashioned American music and stop pandering to the woke mob.”
“CMT has put woke activists ahead of their own viewers by pulling Jason Aldean’s music video off of its platform. This is another blatant attempt by the cancel culture mob to silence viewpoints other than their own, a clear attack on America’s first freedom, the freedom of speech,” Consumers’ Research executive director Will Hild told Fox News Digital.
The music video was shot outside the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee which has been the home of historic racist attacks but also a popular filming location.YouTube/Jason Aldean
“This kind of behavior from companies is why Consumers’ Research created Woke Alerts, so consumers would be able to easily see which companies are pushing woke ideology in their business practices,” he added. “These companies need to focus on their consumers, not woke politicians.”
However, many politicians jumped online to defend what some hear as a patriotic anthem.
Former President Donald Trump showed his support for the musician, who he spent New Year’s Eve with, on his social media site Truth Social writing, “Jason Aldean is a fantastic guy who just came out with a great new song. Support Jason all the way. MAGA!!!”
A former politician from Aldean’s home state of Georgia condemned the controversy.
Critics claim the song promotes harmful messages including racism and gun violence, while others defend that the song condemns acts of violence.YouTube/Jason
“Notice what gets canceled: not the explicit songs that objectify women, glorify drugs, and attack the police — but an honest song about present-day life in America,” former Republican Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler tweeted. “Jason Aldean is giving a voice to millions of Americans – and making Georgia proud.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted, “When the media attacks you, you’re doing something right. @Jason_Aldean has nothing to apologize for.”
South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem went so far as to invite Aldean to perform anywhere in South Dakota, including her front lawn.
“I am shocked by what I’m seeing in this country with people attempting to cancel this song and cancel Jason and his beliefs,” Noem posted in a video on Twitter Wednesday.
Tennesse Sen. Marsha Blackburn tweeted, “Cancel culture is the enemy of freedom of expression. I stand with @Jason_Aldean!”
Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert also tweeted her support for the musician. “The iTunes charts have spoken—Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That In A Small Town’ is number one. Whenever they try and censor us, we only go stronger. Time for CMT to get the Bud Light treatment.”
Amid the debate, Aldean’s headline-making hit has occupied the No. 1spot on iTunes’ Top Songs and Music Videos charts for several days as of Wednesday evening. The single, which was released May 19, has over 4.5 million Spotify streams, and the music video which dropped July 14 has 8.8 million views on YouTube.
Gospel legend Pat Boone said the country music genre is becoming “sick” after the barrage of attempts to cancel Aldean and the song and Winston Marshall, the former Mumford & Sons musician who faced his own wave backlash after tweeting support for a book by a conservative author, spoke about Aldean’s controversy on “FOX & Friends.”
“To say that the controversy is… the location of the filming is a bait and switch,” Marshall said. “It’s a bait and switch, which they’re trying to turn this anti-violence, anti-abuse song into somehow a pro-lynching, pro-racist. It’s utter nonsense.”
The musician in the hot seat defended himself and his song earlier this week.
