Jason Aldean defends song pulled from CMT after pro-lynching allegations: 'Meritless'

ATLANTA (TND) — Country Music Television (CMT) removed Jason Aldean’s latest music video “Try That in a Small Town” from its service Monday, Axios reports.

Though the song was released in May, it has come under fire this week over accusations the song is pro-lynching. In a lengthy tweet, Aldean defended his song as an ode to small town camaraderie.

“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,” Aldean said.

These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far," Aldean added.

Aldean also noted that the song was partly inspired by the tragic mass shooting at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest country music festival.

“NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart,” he said.

Responding to Aldean’s tweet, author Shannon Watts said the song is a coded message implying exclusivity in small town life.

“Translation: Jason Aldean simply wants to return to a time in America when ‘good old boys’ could shoot or beat the s*** out of people who they didn’t think belonged in their town,” Watts wrote.

“Try That in a Small Town” includes lyrics warning city criminals who try to disturb the peace that citizens of small U.S. towns won’t permit such actions.

“Stomp on the flag and light it up. Yeah, you think you’re tough. Well, try that in a small town. See how far ya make it down the road,” the song lyrics read in part.

In the song’s music video, Aldean sings before a lit-up courthouse with an American flag hanging from it at night. Smoke rolls across the scene as different TV news clips appear, showcasing violent crime taking place in metro areas. One scene reads “state of emergency declared in Georgia,” a nod to Aldean’s home state.

These scenes are then contrasted with clips of Americana, showing men hunting, a girl playing hopscotch and a baseball game. An overlaid newscast shows a farmer who says “it’s what this community, and a lot of communities stand for. If someone needs some help, you’ll get it.”

Since its release last week, the video has nearly one million views on YouTube.

Unchecked theft and violent crime continues to be a concern in cities across the U.S. In San Francisco this week, a Walgreens pharmacy was forced to lock its freezer section doors with chains following a rash of shoplifting.

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