Morgan Wallen Flips Off Charley Crockett T-Shirt, Fueling Feud Speculation
During a recent performance at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Morgan Wallen appeared to weigh in on the ongoing debate surrounding "authenticity" in country music by flipping off a Charley Crockett t-shirt held by Gavin Adcock. The incident has sparked considerable discussion online regarding the feud between Adcock and Crockett.
The Incident in Toronto
On Thursday, September 4th, during Wallen's "I’m the Problem" tour performance, Gavin Adcock joined him on stage and presented a t-shirt seemingly featuring Charley Crockett's image and the words "$10 Cowboy Tour." Video footage shows Wallen responding by holding up two middle fingers at the shirt, smiling, and then proceeding with his performance. Representatives for Wallen, Crockett, and Adcock have yet to comment publicly on the incident.
The Backstory: Crockett vs. "Bro Country" and Adcock
The gesture appears to be a reaction to recent comments made by Charley Crockett criticizing "bro country" and addressing the debate over authenticity in the genre. Crockett took to social media last month, seemingly referencing both Wallen and Adcock. He defended Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" album, stating, "Beyoncé ain’t the source of your discontent. It was 25 years of bro country. #1 country artist on earth listen’s to nothing but rap." He also appeared to criticize Adcock's earlier disparaging comments about Beyoncé’s album.
Adcock's Criticism of Beyoncé and Crockett's Response
Gavin Adcock sparked controversy when he declared that Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" "ain’t country music, and it ain’t ever been country music, and it ain’t gonna be country music." This statement, coupled with Crockett’s subsequent defense of Beyoncé and critique of the "bro country" sound, set the stage for the recent onstage display. Crockett then responded by posting "Black music made me. I will not apologize. Raised by a single mama. I am not ashamed. Many men have tried to destroy me. I will not lose.”
Crockett's Stance on "Outlaw Country" and the Industry
Charley Crockett has also been vocal about his views on the current state of the country music industry. He criticized the notion that "outlaw country" is a subgenre, stating that many artists "stand for Auto-Tune and songs written by a committee," contrasting it with the original spirit of outlaw country, which he describes as "standing up for your rights against a very rigid music business system."
The Aftermath and Album Chart Performance
Adcock has been opening for Wallen on select dates of the "I'm the Problem" tour. His album, "Own Worst Enemy," debuted at No. 4 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. Crockett’s recent album, "Dollar a Day", released on August 8th, debuted at No. 196. This controversy has generated buzz and further fueled the debate surrounding authenticity and the direction of contemporary country music. Morgan Wallen's involvement has heightened the visibility of the disagreement.
