Morgan Wallen uses racial slur in video, issues apology: ‘I’m embarrassed and sorry’

Country singer Morgan Wallen took a trip to Paul Mole Barbershop in New York City to get his signature mullet trimmed. He also discussed the crossover success of “Whiskey Glasses.” (Aug. 29) AP Entertainment

Country star Morgan Wallen said he is “embarrassed and sorry” for using a racial slur over the weekend.

A video shows Morgan, 27, being dropped off at a house and telling a friend to “take care of this… (slur),” apparently referring to another person in the group.

“I’m embarrassed and sorry,” Wallen said in a statement after the video was posted Tuesday by TMZ. “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 had not addressed the incident as of Wednesday morning on any of his social media channels — nor had his labels, Big Loud and Republic Records.

Mickey Guyton was among the country artists reacting to the news on Tuesday. The singer — who recently became the first Black female solo artist to receive a Grammy nomination in a country category — tweeted, “The hate runs deep.”

Morgan Wallen performs on the 55TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.

 (Photo: CBS)

In the past year, Wallen has become country music’s biggest new star. He’s topped the Billboard 200 Album chart for the past two weeks, and was named New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards.

He was also arrested for for public intoxication and disorderly conduct outside of Kid Rock’s honky-tonk in downtown Nashville.

Wallen responded to the charges on Twitter at the time, saying he went out in downtown Nashville with “a few old friends.”

“After a couple bar stops, we were horse-playing with each other,” he wrote.

“We didn’t mean any harm, and we want to say sorry to any bar staff or anyone that was affected,” he added. “Thank you to the local authorities for being so professional and doing their job with class.”

He was also booted from performing on “Saturday Night Live” after partying maskless with strangers in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (The show invited him back two months later.)

‘SNL’: Morgan Wallen stars in maskless partying skit months after his own COVID-19 scandal

More: Morgan Wallen talks new album ‘Dangerous’ and why he rocks a mullet

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