Country music star Morgan Wallen was arrested on three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct early Monday in Nashville after he allegedly threw a chair from the rooftop of a bar Sunday night. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the chair landed on the street close to two police officers.
NPR
Morgan Wallen the tribune of the country music world has been at the center of controversy of late, not for the first time. This seems to be big news on Google Trends with over 500,000 people searching for information on the topic this week, so let’s take a little deeper dive and see what is a fair judgement of this artist. Is Wallen a corrupt celebrity or worthy hero?
Background of the Artist
Morgan Wallen is an American country music singer and songwriter who gained significant attention in the music industry. Born on May 13, 1993, in Sneedville, Tennessee, Wallen grew up with a passion for music. He participated in local singing competitions and performed in his high school’s talent shows.
“The Voice” … A Star is Born
In 2014, Wallen auditioned for the reality singing competition “The Voice” during its sixth season. Although he was eliminated during the playoffs, the exposure helped kickstart his career. He signed with Big Loud Records and released his debut album, “If I Know Me,” in 2018. The album featured popular singles such as “Up Down” featuring Florida Georgia Line and “Whiskey Glasses,” both of which achieved commercial success and contributed to Wallen’s rising popularity.
Artist Weathers Storms of Controversy
Despite facing controversies and setbacks, including a highly publicized incident in early 2021 involving the use of a racial slur, Wallen’s career continued to thrive. His sophomore album, “Dangerous: The Double Album,” released in January 2021, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, showcasing his resilience and enduring appeal among country music fans.
On April 8th of this year, Wallen was arrested for throwing a chair off the roof of a six story bar in Nashville that landed three feet from two police officers, which has re-ignited the controversies surrounding the country music star.
Wallen was arrested and booked just after 12:30 a.m. He is charged with three counts of felony reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct, which is a misdemeanor. He posted a bond of $15,250 and was released from Davidson County jail around 3:30 a.m.
WSMV Channel 4
Morgan Wallen Record Album Collection: If I Know Me / Dangerous: The Double Album / One Thing at a Time (paid link)
Throughout his career, Morgan Wallen has been praised for his distinctive voice, authentic storytelling, and ability to blend traditional country sounds with modern influences. Despite facing personal and professional challenges, he remains a prominent figure in the contemporary country music scene.
Worthy Hero or Corrupted Celebrity?
Wallen seems to be a pretty genuine person as celebrities go in my analysis. The crimes committed, although not pretty, are not anything all that out of the ordinary for someone his age, not to say racial slurs are acceptable at all, or that throwing chairs off of buildings while drunk should be condoned, Wallen has shown what looks to be a sincere repentance for what he has done.
Nashville Songwriter: The Inside Stories Behind Country Music’s Greatest Hits (paid link)
The Blessing and Curse of Celebrity
Celebrity status these days is both a blessing and a curse. I am beyond grateful, that a camera was not pointed at me every moment of my late-adolescence and early 20’s. I would of probably had more than two incidents for the media to grab ahold of.
The Incidents Morgan Wallen Were Involved In
Wallen after being filmed calling his white friends the N word at a party, donated $500,000 to charities working for the betterment of African-Americans in the U.S. I can tell you as a high school teacher, this sort of behavior while very offensive, is quite common. He certainly did not need to apologize publicly and donate to a charity, he could of just blown it off as many do.
The ABC News Interview
Throwing Chairs Off A Roof While Drunk
As far as drunken antics, it seems Wallen had the misfortune to throw the chair off the roof and have it land near two police officers. Irresponsible, foolish, and probably not a great thing to do, but how many of us have not done something incredibly stupid while drinking? Who wants to throw the first stone? Wallen has also gone through a alcohol rehabilitation program and during the above interview, it seems very likely he is discussing this topic with a black man on live television as part of the recovery part of his treatment at the time it was given, although, with the latest incident. He in no way shape or form had to subject himself to this level of scrutiny, although he seems to of relapsed in a major way. Hopefully this painful reminder will help him stay with his recovery plan in the future.
The Verdict?
Wallen seems genuinely repentant in regards to his mistakes. He has addressed in significant ways the sources of his issues, alcohol abuse and ignorance, in substantial ways. In a way, a fallen hero is sometimes easier to relate to, especially a repentant one. Wallen seems to fit that mold. This is an excellent example of how we really need to think deeply about judging people based on news headlines and social media posts. I am not a huge country music fan, although I do enjoy the genre, especially when I am out in the countryside of our beautiful country, but I think this young man deserves a chance to prove that he has outgrown the foolishness of his youth because he seems like someone who is sincere and has an open mind.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think Morgan Wallen deserves a stronger rebuke by society in general? Why or why not?
- What are reasonable expectations for celebrities? Does the media treat them fairly?
Thanks for stopping by Bunchiesblog! Comments, likes, and follows are always appreciated. I would love to know others opinions on this issue! Check out my latest posts if you have a moment as well!
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What are your thoughts on this?