Jason Aldean defended himself Tuesday after CMT pulled the controversial music video for his song "Try That in a Small Town" from its rotation amid accusations it is pro-lynching and racist.
"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," Aldean, 46, wrote in a statement posted to his Instagram Story.
"These references are not only meritless, but dangerous."
In the first verse, Aldean sings: "Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk / Carjack an old lady at a red light / Pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store / Ya think it's cool, well, act a fool if ya like.
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He continues: "Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you're tough."
"Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / Around here, we take care of our own / You cross that line, it won't take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don't," Aldean warns.
In the second verse, Aldean claims he's equipped with a gun from his grandfather.
"Got a gun that my grandad gave me / They say one day they're gonna round up / Well, that s–t may fly in the city, good luck," he advises, though it's unclear who "they" refers to.
The music video, which was released Friday, features footage from protests, including BLM protests.
Aldean stands in front of an American flag draped over the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, which is where the 1946 Columbia race riot unfolded.
The conflict almost led to the lynching of Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court justice.
The city was also the backdrop for the lynching of 18-year-old Henry Choate in 1927.
Variety called Aldean's tune "the most contemptible country song of the decade," while social media users lambasted him as "a racist who writes barely concealed lynching songs" and a "violent bigot."
The Post has contacted reps for Aldean and CMT for comment.
Elsewhere in the song, the singer croons: "Full of good ol' boys, raised up right / If you're looking for a fight / Try that in a small town."
