Jason Aldean Defends Controversial Music Video, Denies Racist Undertones

Jason Aldean is still perplexed as to why his song “Try That in a Small Town” and accompanying music video have sparked such outrage. In a teaser clip from a CBS Mornings interview slated to air Wednesday, the country musician, 46, is asked to recollect his original reaction when some critics believed his song and visuals “had racist, undertones, and you know, it was like a call to arms?” “How?!” exclaimed Aldean. When CBS News’ Jan Crawford stated that the music video was perceived as “a threatening kind of video for Black people,” Aldean responded, “There were people of all colour doing stuff in the video, that’s exactly what I don’t understand.”

Jason Aldean is attempting to dispute claims that his controversial music video for “Try That in a Small Town” had racist undertones: “But there was people of all color doing stuff in the video.” https://t.co/ONQAm98jgq pic.twitter.com/K2kToMgYn5
— Variety (@Variety) October 31, 2023

The music video for “Try That in a Small Town” provoked outrage in July for the inclusion of Black Lives Matter protest footage. The video was removed from CMT, & the protest video was later edited out. Aldean condemned the “meritless” & “dangerous” claims levelled against him at the time. It has been alleged that I have released a pro-lynching song in the last 24 hours (a song that has already been out since May) and was liable for the juxtaposition that I was unimpressed with the BLM protests all over the country,” he wrote on social media. There isn’t a single lyric in the music video that compares race or points to it, he said.

Jason Aldean States His Controversial Music Video Doesn’t Contain ‘Racist Undertones’ Since It Features “People of All Colour Doing Things’

Jason Aldean is denying allegations that his controversial music video for “Try That in a Small Town” contained racist overtones. The country music artist appeared on “CBS Mornings” & was questioned by reporter Jan Crawford regarding how he responded to hearing such public claims, to which Aldean replied, “How?” “You know, it felt like a call to arms and small towns,” Crawford said of Aldean’s pushback. “For Black people, it was a frightening kind of video. People were posting it on apps like TikTok.” “Nonetheless, there were individuals of color doing things in it,” he said. “That’s what I’m not sure about. There were white people in there, you know. There were people of colour. I mean, this film didn’t point the finger at a certain group and say, “That’s the problem.” So, if you spotted that in the video, all I can say is that you weren’t looking hard enough in the film.” In July, Aldean sparked outrage when he released the music video for his song “Try That in a Small Town,” which went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 despite the uproar.

TUNE IN: Country music star @Jason_Aldean opens up about his controversial hit, “Try That In A Small Town,” which has prompted both backlash and praise, tomorrow on CBS Mornings. pic.twitter.com/9Jo3SqkfVl

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— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) October 31, 2023

The song had previously been criticised for having pro-gun and pro-violence lyrics, but the accompanying music video sparked even more uproar because it was shot in front of a courthouse in Colombia, Tennessee, where a Black man was lynched in the 1920s. Real-life footage of demonstrations, looting, and violence directed at police personnel was also included. The song video was removed from CMT’s network, and renowned country music figures with names like Sheryl Crow lashed out against Aldean. “I grew up in a small town.” “Violence has sickened individuals in small towns,” Crow posted on X/Twitter in a statement addressed to Aldean’s account. “The promotion of violence is neither small-town nor American.” As someone who has experienced a mass shooting, you should understand this better than any other individual. It’s just plain lame.” Aldean was on stage at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas in 2017 when a gunman opened fire, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds more. On the day after CMT withdrew the “Try That in a Small Town” video, he took to social media to stand up for the song from its many detractors.