MORGAN Wallen’s ACM Award did not have fans singing his praises.
The 27-year-old was SLAMMED for an “undeserved” Album of The Year win as some said his “racist past was rewarded” after he was caught saying racial slurs on video last year.
Country fans and even some members of the audience were shocked when Morgan won Album of The Year at the 2022 American Country Music Awards.
“I wrote some stuff down,” Morgan began during his acceptance speech that saw his mullet-style hair slicked back, grinning while holding his award for 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album.
“When I started this album, I was a kid. By the time I put it out I was a father.”
The singer and dad to 20-month-old son Indigo Wilder with baby mama and ex-fiance Katie Smith continued:
“That’s become more important than anything else. To my son, this album and this award will signify that his daddy was a fighter, and he chased his dream and worked hard to make them a reality.”
His now-award-winning 2021 album was released one month before a video made the rounds filmed in Nashville, Tennessee that saw Morgan saying racial slurs.
During his speech, he also thanked his “lord and savior Jesus Christ, friends and family and band … and everyone who’s shown me grace along the way.”
But most importantly I have to address my fans personally and directly- Thank you, thank you, thank you!” he exclaimed on-stage.
Also nominated were Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, Chris Young as well as a joint project from Jack Ingram, Jon Randall and Miranda Lambert.
FAN FURY
Fans nearly instantly flooded Twitter to slam the ACMs for “rewarding” a “racist” with a major prize.
“Good Job ACM’s on rewarding the racist piece of s**t that’s a real good look,” one wrote.
“Weird how people can drop the N-word and not get canceled,” wrote another.
“What an undeserved award for @MorganWallen apparently being a raging drunk racist gets you rewarded for subpar music at best,” bashed a third.
While a fourth noted on a peer: “Maren Morris didn’t stand OR clap for Morgan Wallen’s album of the year win. We stan a true queen.”
Another wrote: “Does your ‘savior Jesus christ’ help you drop those N bombs too Morgan Wallen? Album of the year?? For the record, about 10 months is how long you will get punished for being racist in country music.”
‘I WAS WRONG’
Morgan has come under fire by fans and fellow country stars after a video surfaced in February 2021.
He could be heard saying: “Take care of this “p****-a** mother******” – and then goes on to say, “take care of this p****-ass n*****.”
The video, which had been captured by a neighbor, took place after he had come back to his Nashville home after a night out with some friends.
The country singer has had his contract with Big Loud Records “suspended indefinitely.”
However, sales of his album released one month before did spike by more than 1,000 percent, per Yahoo – and eventually, he reached a double-platinum status, remaining ‘uncanceled’ as some noted.
A week later, the singer has decided to address the shocking incident himself with an “update from me” on his Instagram.
In the five-minute video he begged his fans not to defend his vile words.
“I have one favor to ask. I appreciate those who still see something in me and have defended me,” he began.
“But for today, please don’t. I was wrong. It’s on me. I take ownership for this and I fully accept any penalties I’m facing.”
“The video you saw of me was me on hour 72 of 72 of a bender and that’s not something I’m proud of either,” he said.
“I let so many people down…I let my parents down. And they are the furthest people from [that video of me]. I let my son down.”
“I’m gonna spend some time taking back control of my habit, living healthy, and being proud of my actions,” as he reiterated his message to his fans.
EARLIER STUMBLES
Dangerous: The Double Album boasts hits like “Whiskey Glasses” and “Up Down” with Florida Georgia Line.
He was deemed ineligible at both the ACM and CMT Awards in 2021, and was banned from participating in the Billboard Music Awards after the video, despite later Billboard success after the video.
His success has come despite a number of mistakes and stumbles that he has also apologized for.
Earlier, Morgan was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct in May 2020 after getting kicked out of a downtown Nashville bar.
In October 2020, Saturday Night Live dropped him from a scheduled performance on their show after he violated Covid-19 protocols, after videos appeared on social media of him partying with fans in Alabama.
He was later invited back on the show in December, where he appeared in a skit making fun of himself.
The musician, now departing on a 46-city arena tour, had a defender in a few people, including his sister and baby mama Katie – who shared a cryptic poem to her Instagram when the Tennessee video surfaced.
The poem, taken from Kaur’s debut poetry collection, Milk And Honey, reads: “it takes grace to remain kind in cruel situations”.
The couple is no longer together, but co-parent daughter Indie, who they welcomed on July 10, 2020.
