photo: VEVO
Fast-rising country singer Morgan Wallen is now getting dropped by hundreds of radio stations after video emerged of him saying the n-word outside of his home.
Update: The list of cancellations and removals for Morgan Wallen continues to grow, with radio stations, streaming platforms, awards shows, and Wallen’s label severing their relationships with the singer. Here’s the latest update.
Morgan Wallen was recorded saying the n-word outside of his home after a recent night of partying in Nashville. The video appears to have been recorded by a neighbor over the weekend while Wallen was getting dropped off. It was published by TMZ late Wednesday, and quickly sparked a fury on social media.
In reaction, Cumulus Media has now issued a directive to its 400-plus radio station network to immediately remove Wallen from its playlists — “without exception”. Cumulus is the second-largest radio station network in the U.S.
The video itself shows an inebriated Wallen saying goodbye to some friends as he walks towards his residence. Referring to an unnamed friend of his, he says, “take care of this p—y ass motherf—r,” followed by “take care of this p—y ass n—”. After that remark, Wallen walks towards his front door to crash for the night. The video quickly spread, with Wallen immediately issuing an apology for using the slur and promising to ‘do better’.
“I’m embarrassed and sorry,” Wallen stated. “I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better.”
Despite the apology, Cumulus has now issued an urgent email to its network station PDs to immediately drop the singer. Marked ‘EXTREMELY IMPORTANT,’ the message states in part: “Unfortunately, country music star Morgan Wallen was captured on video Sunday evening using a racial slur. Effective immediately, we request that all of Morgan Wallen’s music be removed from our playlists without exception. More to follow.”
Country radio stations are currently playing Wallen in heavy rotation, so the drop will be highly noticeable.
Currently, Wallen (Republic/UMG) is smashing records with multiple tracks on both radio and streaming networks. Just last month, the singer released an ambitious Dangerous: The Double Album, his second studio release.
At this point, it’s unclear if other radio station networks are taking similar actions. Separately, platforms like Spotify and Apple Music may also take action; currently, Wallen hasn’t been scrubbed from Spotify, though it appears that Apple Music is removing the artist from some of its promotional areas.
Late last year, Wallen was temporarily removed from Saturday Night Live after video emerged of the singer partying without a mask.
How many rap stations are dropping hip hop artists for the same reason?
How many rap stations have white rappers using a derogatory term against another racial group, in a way that is meant to demean them? none
I am sure Death Row will suspend all its artists for doing the same.
Yet they don’t do the same. Apple and oranges, idiot.
Way to not get it. Nobody expected you to based upon your history of ignorant comments on this site.
Fuk ur BLM.
I think that this is wrong. Like it’s wrong that he said the n-word but it’s still wrong that he loses so much! We all know that so many people use that word when they should and even other artists say it. It’s not right that he loses a lot but just because of that doesn’t mean he should lose it. It just messed up smh. I’m not trying to start