Just last week, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"'s Shaboozey took to Instagram to share some new photos of himself. The location of the images is marked as Montana, USA, and fans were all over it at first. The comments were full of people hyping the singer up a week ago, but now that's not the case.
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Alongside comments saying "Wow, such a gorgeous shot" and "Beautiful photos", Shaboozey's got some hate comments. "You were trespassing, though," and "Can we come take photos on your property without permission?" Why would that be?
Shaboozey Accused of Trespassing by Multiple Property Owners
Three days after the pictures were posted, a woman named Lexie Kottwitz posted an open letter to Shaboozey on Facebook. Firstly, the letter stated that the property in the photos belonged to her. Secondly, it mentioned that the singer had failed to ask for any sort of permission before using it.
Shaboozey,
I am writing you in regards to a recent and unexpected visit that you made to our family's private property in Montana. While we understand the appeal and beauty of the land out here —the wild skies, the untouched nature, the deep quiet —we were taken aback to learn that you crossed into our private acreage without permission, on social media, no less.
Here in Montana, the land is not just land. It's a way of life. Generations of families have cared for it, protected it, and drawn strength and identity from it. With that comes a deep respect for personal property and the understanding that stewardship and boundaries go hand in hand.
Trespassing, whether by a stranger or a celebrity, goes against those values. Our family has worked hard to preserve this space, not just for ourselves but for our community and our heritage. That respect is something we extend to others, and it's something we respect in return.
I trust this incident was not malicious, but it's important you know that this land is not open to the public for exploration, no matter how scenic or symbolic it may seem from the outside.
Montana's beauty is rooted not only in its wilderness, but also in the integrity of its people —people who value honesty, respect, and the understanding that this land deserves our care and reverence.
We welcome you to our big, beautiful state that prides itself on having acres upon acres of public land to enjoy. We also welcome you to build relationships with the folks that reside here; we are pretty friendly people. A phone call or door knock would have been the right thing to do.
Please respect our values moving forward."
As it turns out, Lisa wasn't the only property owner who was a victim in the situation. Another owner of the land that had been trespassed on also shared a statement on Kottwitz's post. "Ask first, we probably would have welcomed you, especially since we like your music and appreciate artistic talent."
On the post, which has since been deleted or privated, comments inquired whether Shaboozey had given any response. Kottwitz responded, saying that neither he nor his team had thus far. For now, the Instagram posts remain up on the singer's page, and hate comments keep coming through.
Photo by: Jim Dyson/Redferns
