Morgan Wallen, who has the No. 1 album in the U.S. for the third week in a row, has been suspended by his record label and removed from playlists after he was caught using the N-word.
The 27-year-old said he is “embarrassed and sorry."
Wallen told TMZ, after it posted a video clip in which he is heard referring to someone as a “p***y-a** n****r," that he used an " unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back."
Wallen added: “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.”
Wallen’s record label said in a statement via Twitter: “In the wake of recent events, Big Loud Records has made the decision to suspend Morgan Wallen’s recording contract indefinitely. Republic Records fully supports Big Loud’s decision and agrees such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Other country artists took to social media with reactions.
“The hate runs deep,” tweeted Mickey Guyton. “Smfh.
“How many passes will you continue to give? Asking for a friend. No one deserves to be canceled but this is unacceptable … Promises to do better don’t mean s**t.”
Maren Morris opined that Wallen’s racist language is “representative of our town.” She tweeted: “This isn’t his first ‘scuffle’ and he just demolished a huge streaming record last month regardless. We all know it wasn’t his first time using that word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs with no recourse.”
Kelsea Ballerini tweeted: “The news out of Nashville tonight does not represent country music.” She later replied “the truth is the truth” to a tweet in which someone suggested “if a female artist did 5% of the s**t he has pulled she would be dropped immediately by everyone.”
In response to the slur, streaming services and radio stations quickly pulled Wallen’s music from playlists.
Last October, Wallen was booted as musical guest on SNL after he was caught on video flouting COVID-19 rules. In his apology, the singer admitted he had “some growing up to do” and “lost myself a little bit.”
Wallen promised to “take a step back from the spotlight for a little while and go work on myself. I’m gonna go work on me.”
He was invited back to SNL on its Dec. 5th episode.
This article has been updated since it was first published.