Jason Aldean: Amid the disorder over Jason Aldean‘s song “Try That in a Small Town,” it appears the music video has been secretly changed to eliminate some of the racially provocative imagery.
After critics claimed that the video featured racist, pro-gun, and pro-lynching messaging, Jason Aldean’s controversial “Try That in a Small Town” music video was reportedly changed to eliminate visuals of a Black Lives Matter rally.
The video is now six seconds shorter than when it was first shared on July 14, according to The Washington Post. There is no longer a Fox 5 Atlanta video documenting violent interactions during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.
The country musician responded last week to recent charges that “Try That in a Small Town” is a “modern lynching song.” The song encourages individuals who “pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store” or “cuss out a cop” to do so in a small town and “see how far ya make it down the road.”
The video for the song shows an American flag being burned, demonstrators clashing with police, looters destroying a display case, and robbers robbing a convenience store.
“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to a comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,” Jason Aldean wrote in his statement.
“These references are not only meritless but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage- and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.”
He later addressed the controversy during his Ohio concert on Friday (July 21). “It’s been a long week and I’ve seen a lot of stuff suggesting I’m this, suggesting I’m that,” Jason Aldean told the crowd in a fan-captured video. “I feel like everybody’s entitled to their opinion. You can think something all you want to, but it doesn’t mean it’s true.”
He added, “What I am is a proud American. I’m proud to be from here. I love our country. I want to see it restored to what it once was before all these bulls— started happening to us.
I love my country, I love my family, and I will do anything to protect that, I can tell you that right now.”
Last week, the country singer reacted to accusations that “Try That in a Small Town” is a “modern lynching song.” Individuals who “pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store” or “cuss out a cop” are encouraged to do so in a small town and “see how far ya make it down the road.”
The video for the song depicts the burning of an American flag, protesters battling with police, looters damaging a display case, and thieves robbing a convenience store.