The music industry has always been a platform where artists express their emotions, experiences, and perspectives. However, when the content of a song sparks controversy and debate, it becomes a matter of social interest….
In a series of popular TikTok videos, a woman publicly criticized Jason Aldean for his divisive song “Try That in a Small Town” and now claims she has received “dozens of death threats” from online trolls.
The country artist, 46, drew criticism after releasing the music video for “Try That In A Small Town” on Friday (July 14). Country music channel CMT has since pulled the video from rotation, according to Billboard and Deadline.
Many critics claimed that the accompanying music video had racially offensive imagery, including a moment in which Aldean is seen performing in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where a black youth, Henry Choate, was lynched in 1927.
Others have also noted that the song’s lyrics, which include phrases such as “Sucker hit somebody on the sidewalk / Carjack, old lady at a red light / Pull a gun on the liquor store owner,” warn people against showing off and attacking the police. officers in the narrator’s neighborhood.
Here is Aldean’s statement:
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 the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous.…
— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023
My song, which has been out since May, has been compared to a lynching in the last 24 hours, and I’ve also been accused of being unimpressed by the widespread BLM protests. Besides being worthless, these references are risky.…
Several astute viewers also claimed that the singer included clips from the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that took place when George Floyd was killed by police in 2020. However, Aldean refuted the claims on Twitter, claiming that all the news clips used were real, saying, that the music video is not “pro-lynching.”
Additionally, he claimed that there were no racial slurs in the song and that it was meant to capture “the sense of the community I grew up in”.
A TikToker named Destinee Stark took to the social media platform after watching the infamous music video, and Aldean’s response to the criticism refuted his claims regarding the footage used in the music video.
In her eight-minute video, Stark claimed to have discovered two pieces of footage in the opening thirty seconds of the music video, both of which are available on websites featuring the footage. One was captured at a festival in Germany and the other was created by a film production company in Bulgaria.
The phrase “Jason Aldean Dog Whistles” refers to expressions that have meaning to a certain group but not to the general public. Stark has also released six separate videos with the title.
While her popular video has racked up over 1.5 million views, the TikToker has now revealed that she has received death threats and been the target of doxing, the practice of posting personal information about someone online.
The first thirty seconds of the music video, according to Stark’s eight-minute video, contains two clips, both of which can be found on footage websites. The former was recorded at a festival in Germany, while the latter was produced by a Bulgarian stock company.
The term “Jason Aldean Dog Whistles” describes idioms that are understood by a specific group of people, but not by the general public. Stark has also published six other videos under this title.
While her popular video had more than 1.5 million views, the TikToker has since revealed that she was a victim of doxing, the practice of posting personal information about someone online and that she received death threats.
The first thirty seconds of the music video, according to Stark’s eight-minute video, contains two clips, both of which can be found on footage websites. The former was recorded at a festival in Germany, while the latter was produced by a Bulgarian stock company.
The term “Jason Aldean Dog Whistles” describes idioms that are understood by a specific group of people, but not by the general public. Stark has also published six other videos under this title.
While her popular video had more than 1.5 million views, the TikToker has since revealed that she was a victim of doxing, the practice of posting personal information about someone online and that she received death threats.
However, ‘Try That in a Small Town’ debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 this week and is expected to climb to number one next week despite criticism.
In Conclusion:
The controversy surrounding Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” revealed the complexities of the intersection between art, race, and social media in today’s digital age. It sparked heated debates about artist responsibility, the power of online discourse, and the need for open and respectful dialogues about sensitive issues. Moving forward, it is imperative that society engages in thoughtful conversations that foster understanding, empathy, and meaningful change.