Everyone has been talking about "Bad News," the new song by Zach Bryan. Well, the singer has finally responded to the criticisms surrounding the controversial track.
Videos by Wide Open Country
What Is "Bad News" About?
The Navy veteran posted a snippet of the Springsteen-inspired ballad earlier this week with the caption, "the fading of the red, white, and blue." The controversy centers on the song's second verse, which references ICE raids and its perceived criticism of the agency.
"And ICE is gonna come bust down your door/ Try to build a house, no bills no more, well I got a telephone/ Kids are all scared and all alone."
What Have People Been Saying About the Song?
Comments have been suspended on the post debuting the song. That hasn't stopped Bryan's conservative fans from sharing their thoughts on other posts.
"Good luck with the new fan base," one comment said. Other users called Bryan a "liberal tool" and said he was "just like Springsteen."
John Rich of Big and Rich, who has long been outspoken about his conservative beliefs, took to X by captioning a quote tweet about the political nature of "Bad News" with, "Nashville is full of guys like this."
In another tweet, Rich equated Bryan with The Chicks.
However, Rich wrote on X yesterday that "Bryan has every right to record a song bashing law enforcement, and fans have every right to keep supporting his career, or not. Capitalism isn't cancellation. Who knows, maybe there's a large 'anti-law enforcement' wing of the country music fanbase. We'll soon find out."
However, as we reported yesterday, Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responded to Bryan's song with this:
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson added, "While Zach Bryan wants to Open The Gates to criminal illegal aliens and has Condemned heroic ICE officers, Something in the Orange tells me a majority of Americans disagree with him and support President Trump's great American Revival. Godspeed, Zach!"
What Does Zach Bryan Have To Say About All of This?
Bryan addressed the backlash on Instagram Stories Tuesday night.
The message began with, "I wrote this song months ago. I posted this song three months ago as a snippet."
"This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media," he continued. "This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything.
"When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.
"I served this country, I love this country, and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn't speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou a**hole, just a 29-year-old man who is as confused as everyone else.
"To see how much s*** [the song] stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing, we're all one bird and American. To be clear, I'm on neither of these radical sides.
"To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe just know I'm trying my best too and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes. Everyone have a great day and I love each and every one of ya!!!"
Zach Bryan Had More To Say
Possibly referring to his breakup with Brianna Chickenfry and feud with Gavin Adcock, Bryan added in another post, "The last few months of my life I've been scrutinized by more people than I ever thought possible. I feel like I've tried my hardest in so many ways and it's so hard to see where my bearings even are anymore. Been falling off a cliff while trying to grow wings at the same time.
"I am SO proud to have served in a country where we can speak freely and converse amongst each other without getting doxed or accosted on the internet or worse; the violence and heartbreak we've faced in the last few months! God speed ol sons, I'm out!"
