Seven fan-funded Morgan Wallen billboards have appeared in Nashville, Tenn. on Monday, June 7, just 3 days ahead of the 2021 CMT Music Awards.
The billboards are located in and around the downtown Nashville area, including several locations along the highly trafficked streets Broadway and West End Ave. According to a fan named Darleen Ingram who has contacted Music Mayhem, a group of Wallen supporters rallied together once again to raise funds for billboards to support the East Tennessee native.
The latest billboards mark the third set of billboards funded by Wallen’s fans. In May, they joined together to purchase one billboard in Los Angeles boycotting the Billboard Music Awards, and in early April, they funded six billboards in Nashville during the week of the ACM Awards, who deemed Wallen ineligible. Although the newest billboards happened to appear just three days before the 2021 CMT Music Awards, Wallen’s fans say they are not targeted at CMT’s show but are targeted at the music industry as a rally cry to be heard.
“While we are not taking a direct aim at the CMT Music Awards as we appreciate their forgiveness and for allowing Morgan’s participation within their future shows,” Ingram told Music Mayhem. “However, we do still stand tall and want our voices to be heard loud and clear as we’ve had enough of these cancel culture ways. It’s time to stop cancel culture, enough is enough! Morgan has repeatedly apologized and has made every effort to do better for himself. The support he is being shown from fellow artists is greatly appreciated and helps cancel cancel culture. We appreciate y’all for sticking by him.”
The billboard design reads, “the fans are speaking, ENOUGH is ENOUGH” situated next a mullet silhouette and Wallen’s signature word “GAHT.” Also featured on the billboard is a reference to “Mark 11:25,” a bible verse about forgiveness. The text beneath the first statement shares a message for the music industry: “music industry, we want to be heard!”
The billboards are in reference to the backlash that Wallen has faced since early February when a video of him using a racial slur surfaced online.
The same group of fans have also funded a billboard that will soon be built in Wallen’s hometown of Sneedville, Tennessee. The Sneedville billboard will become a permanent fixture in Wallen’s hometown, marking the first-ever billboard built in the area.
The billboards, which were purchased via Lamar Advertising, and will run through Sunday, June 13.
Wallen has faced extensive backlash following his use of a racial slur. On February 3, one day after the TMZ video surfaced, his label, Big Loud, revealed that his recording contract had been suspended indefinitely. Additionally, his music was pulled from hundreds of radio stations across the country and removed from major playlists across various DSPs, including Spotify and Apple Music.
“I’m embarrassed and sorry,” Wallen said in a statement after TMZ published the video. “I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. 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 also released a lengthy video apology and then took an extensive break from the spotlight and social media. He later returned to social media with a hand-written letter to fans.
“Not only has this time revealed to me the ways in which I want to improve, but it’s also reminded me that I am still very proud of who I am and the man I am becoming,” he shared in mid-April.
At the time, Wallen revealed that he has decided to remove himself from his scheduled appearances throughout the summer, including his spot on Luke Bryan’s tour. Wallen closed his post by letting fans know that his “story is far from over” and promised, “you’ll be seeing me sooner than later.”
The singer/songwriter has remained mostly out of the spotlight, until recently when he surprised patrons at Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk & Steakhouse with a pop-up performance on May 19. He also attended Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa VIP grand opening, and even shared a heartfelt performance of a brand new song called “Thought You Should Know.”
Most recently, Wallen returned to social media by documenting a visit to Bass Pro Shop with his son, Indigo Wilder.
In recent weeks, Wallen’s music has been slowly reinstated to several radio stations and digital streaming platforms.
Despite industry backlash, Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album notched a record-breaking 10+ weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart earlier this year.
This article was published solely for news purposes only and does not reflect views or opinions of Music Mayhem or its staff.
