I only follow gossip about a handful of country music people: Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and…? Yeah, that’s about it. I don’t mind looking at photos of Luke Bryan, mostly because I’m not paying attention to his personality. So while I know that the name “Jason Aldean” is important in bro-country, I really don’t know much about him. Aldean has an interview in the latest issue of Billboard, and I don’t know what it is with Billboard lately, but this is the second major story with a country music bro where the bro sounds like a total Donald Trump supporter. The first Billboard profile was Blake Shelton’s, but Aldean’s might be worse.
First, some backstory: last November, social media photos began to creep out of various celebrities’ Halloween costumes. Aldean, it seems, had decided to “dress up” as Lil Wayne. Complete with blackface. Because… we can never have too much blackface in 2015, right? Aldean was widely criticized for it when the photos came out, and Billboard asked him about it in their story. Here’s some more backstory: Aldean was caught cheating on his then-wife Jessica Ussery in 2012. Ussery was his high school sweetheart and mother of his two kids. Aldean then married his mistress, American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr, last year. Kerr’s name comes up in this piece. You can read the full Billboard piece here. Some highlights:
On the label “bro country”: “It’s a f—ing ridiculous term. It’s incredibly insulting to me. It’s meant to describe guys whose songs are all about pickup trucks, drinking beer and girls. It’s meant to talk down to us — me, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, all of us. They haven’t bothered to listen to the body of work I’ve recorded over the years. At least take time to do your homework.”
How he ended up dressed up as Lil Wayne: He found the costume in a store and Kerr, a makeup artist, painted his face so he could go unrecognized in public. “In this day and age people are so sensitive that no matter what you do, somebody is going to make a big deal out of it. Me doing that had zero malicious intent … I get that race is a touchy subject, but not everybody is that way. Media tends to make a big deal out of things. If that was disrespectful to anyone, I by all means apologize. That was never my intention. It never crossed my mind.”
He’s an investor in Jay-Z’s Tidal & against streaming: “This isn’t about me making more money. It’s about wanting to stand up for not only myself but for an entire genre of music and an entire town — Nashville. It’s about the writers, publishers, producers, everybody who’s getting the short end of the stick on this deal.”
What world do people live in where they can say “people are so sensitive” when those people are literally upset that an adult white man in the South thinks it’s appropriate to “wear blackface” as a Halloween costume? Say what you will about Julianne Hough, but when she got caught up in the exact same kind of controversy (wearing blackface for Halloween) she had the decency to be ashamed about it and admit that she was ignorant and dumb. Also: “I get that race is a touchy subject, but not everybody is that way.” Race is a touchy subject… for everybody but white country bros whining about political correctness.
Jason Aldean doesn’t see the big deal about dressing up as Lil Wayne in blackface https://t.co/gGyNuZHRGt pic.twitter.com/8zevCitNK8
— SPIN (@SPINmagazine) September 9, 2016
Photos courtesy of Billboard, WENN.
Dumbass being a dumbass. I JUST CAN’T EVEN.
@Jessie
You are pretty.
As for this dude, he sounds like a Trumpkin so lol BYE.
I can’t stand Jason Aldean. From his sleazy relationship where he cheated on his wife to his beliefs about “sensitive” people (aka PC run amok for asshats like him). I’ve never liked him.
This is why I spent 4 years and Nashville and didn’t come away with more than a vague knowledge of country. I can’t stand the people behind it for the most part
When people complain about everything being too “PC” all I hear is “why can’t I be an as$&@*% without facing consequences?”
PC was made up to denigrate the request for a more respectful discourse.
I’m dying to get up out of here!
This gross guy and his constant face bloat and false denials of cheating and racism…..
And the fact his equally dumb gf dressed as some vaguely imagined gangbanger complete with gang signs implies a lot that they both thought that’s a good counterpart to his costume. Black equals rap and gangs to these aholes.
Dude if you wanted to go as Lil Wayne all you had to do is dress like an alien. Just dress as the alien from Predator and viola” , you are Lil Wayne.
BTW Wayne calls himself an alien.
Also this guy is playing the ignorant card. There’s nothing wrong with dressing as a celebrity but it’s how you do it. Miley Cyrus dressed as Nicks M but she did it without Blackface
Exactly. Dressing up like someone doesn’t mean you should also change the color of your skin with cheap, obviously fake makeup. It’s not like you’re going to ACTUALLY look like the person, and I think it’s fairly obvious that was not his intention anyways. He didn’t paint his face so the look would be more genuine, he did it because he’s a privileged white dude who is willfully ignorant to the history of blackface. And would he cut off his penis or “tuck” if he dressed up as a woman? Or have sex with a man to dress up as a gay celebrity? These are all aspects of our identity that we are born with.
Exactly KB. Great comparison. Would he tuck to dress up like a woman.
That was the problem I had with one episode of Tyra Bank’s Next Top Model. She put White actresses in Black face to portray Black people. She had Black and White models portraying Asia’s and Native Americans by altering their skin tones and eyes. So was what she did any different from this guy, or Katy Perry, or Julie the Hough? She even had White and Black models dress up at Geishas on one episode.
So very ignorant. I’m so glad I don’t know who this person is and I hope I never see him again.
“I get that race is a touchy subject, but not everybody is that way” – Jason Aldean.
You’re exactly right Jason. Racist bigots aren’t touchy at all about being racist.
“I get that race is a touchy subject, but not everybody is that way. Media tends to make a big deal out of things. If that was disrespectful to anyone, I by all means apologize. That was never my intention. It never crossed my mind.”
Not everybody is what way? Not everybody is offended by racially offensive behavior? IF that was disrespectful? IF? You still do not see that your behavior WAS disrespectful to a great number of people? It never crossed your mind? Do you even have a mind? Never mind. Just STFU.
Right? Wtf is wrong with this dude?
He grew up in a red state.
I mean, this whole omg did I offend you when I did x,y,z that is clearly offensive? How can people NOT know in 2016 that blackface, headdresses and other cultural appropriation is ALWAYS going to offend.
And seriously, why do people feel like their face complete with black makeup is the only way to be someone black for Halloween? Or, how about just be someone where race/color isn’t an option.
I mean, I’m SO OVER this bs and then the lame ass half way apologies that let us all know the next time they just won’t go in public when they feel like being racist ignorant effs.
Sorry, but I’ve seen plenty of “Blue-Staters” say and do racist, sexist, stupid things, so I don’t think it’s fair to say this idiot is an idiot solely based on location. An idiot is an idiot is an idiot, as this country dudebro proves to me.
Exactly, Sandy, saying someone is racist because they grew up in a “red state” is absolutely ridiculous. There are plenty of racist idiots in blue states too.
I grew up in a red state and I have no patience for people like him. Saying that’s why he is the way he is denigrates the reasonable, intelligent people who live there while simultaneously shifting the blame away from him.
You’re right guys, I’m sorry I said red state. Asses can live anywhere. My sincerest apologies, that wasn’t accurate or fair. Xo
this.
and I have nothing to add.
Really. He’s a jackass.
It never crossed his mind that blackface would be offensive. I can’t even…this is so outrageous to me that I can’t even put it into words.
it is shocking but it doesn’t occur to most POS racists that it is offensive. they think its funny and since their opinion is the only one that matters in the good ol’ US of A it shouldn’t matter to anyone else – particularly those pesky brown people. MERICA! now lets all go screw a bald eagle on a bed of american flags!
needless to say i think this guy is so totally gross – the worst of the worst. it gives me the heaves to look at him.
I had the misfortune of meeting him years ago at the AMAs and he was openly racist then. He kept whining that the white, female backup dancers were hanging out with black band members.
That’s rich, coming from a guy who tries to hide his bloated face behind huge hats and facial hair styling.
Ugh…..sour grapes, they were prob a lot better looking than him.
Well it’s not like there’s been countless examples of c-list celebrities doing blackface and getting eviscerated for it,, but ya know lets feign ignorance. 😒😑 moron
Exatly!! I mean Julianne Hough got crucified, realized her own ignorance and did a great job of both taking accountability and understanding of what she did. She listened. She didn’t try to pretend that it didn’t hurt people.
He’s just guilty of being ignorant, crass, and stupid.
And racist, don’t forget racist.
Fuck him. What a racist, vile, ugly, untalented piece of garbage.
So he’s insulted by bro-country but he honks everyone else is too sensitive?!? Yeah. Great thinking there buddy. SMH.
ETA: I’m sure they didn’t have malicious intent when they made up the term “bro-country” so he shouldn’t be offended, right?
Also, maybe because I don’t even know who this man is that’s why he’s doing this controversy. You know make the people that don’t know hate him and make people that are like minded love him more? Makes headlines.
Isn’t that always the way though? The anti-PC crowd doesn’t believe in being offended — until it’s them being offended.
Yea. The logic and self-awareness (or lack thereof) displayed in this interview is astounding.
“So he’s insulted by bro-country but he honks everyone else is too sensitive?!?”
Such a great point!!!
Agree that it’s amusing and sad that he’s mad about being labeled bro country but couldn’t care less about black face and racism. Like Lena D.(forgot spelling) I don’t think they care about racism since they don’t have to face it in life. They only care about issues that directly affects them.
That was my take away from all his whining. It’s wrong when people lump him and his buddies into an unfavorable group. But people are too sensitive when he lumps everyone into one unfavorable group. Idiot.
And FYI for anyone wondering, you don’t have to paint your face when you’re pretending to be a POC. How about dressing as that character and leave it at that? If people don’t know who you’re supposed to be, you can just, oh I dunno…TELL THEM!
WHY IS THIS KIND OF SH*T STILL HAPPENING?????
The epitome of “Everyone is so touchy about it, but I didn’t mean anything bad therefore it is okay and everyone needs to get over it!!” I’m only surprised that he didn’t also say that he knows “X amount of black people and they all thought it was hilarious!”. You want people to stop treating you like a dumb redneck? Stop dressing in blackface for Halloween and then being tone deaf about why people think it is wrong.
PS Maybe you want to tell your pal that a white girl dressing as a chola for Halloween isn’t funny either.
He’s crying about the term “bro country” but WE are the sensitive ones? No, bicth. Just, no.
Jason- you’re a racist. Don’t be p*ssy as well by hiding behind weak excuses
He is eternally gross, and he and his singer/makeup artist/mistress/future ex-wife deserve each other.
No. The problem isn’t people being too sensitive. It’s you not being sensitive enough. The problem isn’t malicious intent or race being a touchy subject or the media (always with the media) making a big deal out of it. The problem is it never crossed your mind. And you still don’t get it. Educate yourself.
“I get that race is a touchy subject, but not everybody is that way.”
Especially rich white guys. Weird, that.
Reminds me of when fellow Clevelanders say ‘What? Nothing’s offensive about Chief Wahoo!!!???’ (Cleveland Indians baseball mascot). Right, Chad. It’s weird how YOU aren’t offended by the disgustingly cartoonish buffoon of a persecuted people…having never lived one shining second outside of your skin. The lack of brain power is a scourge on our entire species.
Here, have another 4 Loco.
He’s a cheating, racist slob.
He keeps thinking he was a victim in the cheating thing, like he was the wronged party, that his privacy was invaded. No bruh, you cheated! You were wrong! End of story.
Most modern country sounds like a parody of itself. Save me Kacey Musgraves!
Since I know his comments on blackface will be rightfully and throughly taken down here- I’m going to focus on his complaints of being called “Bro-Country.” Quite simply, yes you are, bro. Maybe not every single song, but a majority. It’s also an image and vibe that goes along with the songs. I am a huge country fan, and am very familiar with his body of work (and Luke Bryan and FGL) and yeah- you’re no Johnny Cash, Tim McGraw, or Phil Vassar. You, FGL, and Luke Bryan are bro country and everything that’s wrong with the genre today.
Trash.
i find that those who claim to be unintentionally racist, or “societally-brainwashed” to be racist, (or i don’t know what the proper term is) to be much scarier than those who are blatantly or unapologetically racist.
i mean, with those who are “out and proud racist” we know how to avoid them, or catch them, or address them. the adage: better the enemy you know yadda yadda.
“In this day and age people are so sensitive that no matter what you do, somebody is going to make a big deal out of it. Me doing that had zero malicious intent … I get that race is a touchy subject, but not everybody is that way. Media tends to make a big deal out of things. If that was disrespectful to anyone, I by all means apologize. That was never my intention. It never crossed my mind.”
Ahhh Spoken like a True Blue Grade A Homegrown *sshole…. By the way I suspect That’s what we are codifying with the term BroCountry perhaps? that disgusting Manurey smell that you get in your nose and the back of your throat when a douchebag Country Edition hits ya with the “Im sorry you were offended that i’m an ignorant bigot but I’m going to continue being willfully ignorant and obtuse cause it feels like a warm hug at home”, you know , Unapologetically Racist but Cute enough that you can still get poon in various circles
+1000
@QQ, you just crack me up! (That’s a compliment by the way}. I love your inciteful comments, and your purple hair. It is so refreshing to hear the views of a younger person who is so obviously smart, and, as we used to say, at the pit face, of the current thinking on these age old inequities. I have always loathed and detested country music and it’s blatant misogyny, wrapped up in beer soaked yucks. It always fascinates me how Nicole Kidman could have taken up with that ridiculous Ken doll who spouts and espouses these cave man sentiments.
Anyhoo, QQ, carry on with your wonderful comments, they are much appreciated.
LMMFAO @ beer soaked yucks LOVE IT! , Also , DO NOT make me Blush!! *Kisses for on top of your head*
Agree 100%
This post right here. Beautiful from beginning to end.
but yet he’ll take advantage. Ludacris performed on one of his songs, and they performed it at the Grammys one year. You’d think those pairing with people of other backgrounds and experiences (FGL and Luke Bryan included for their collabs with Nelly and Jason Derulo) would have more sensitivity.
It’s cool, bro. I’m sure you had zero malicious intent, just like a lot of slave owners really loved their slaves and “treated them well.” As long as a person isn’t thinking malicious thoughts, why on earth should they be judged for any actions that hurt and victimize people?
No one has the intent to show their ignerts either. But OOPS dere it tis. I am confident had he not been captured on social media, all the good old boys woulda whooped it up over such racial jocularity.
When I see this douche, all I see is a bloated, drunken, racist cheating half wit with very few redeeming qualities. Essentially, a giant plonker!
Exactly. The guy’s a total douche.
So we are all sensitive that you, a white man, is no longer entitled to be this way and letting you know it is wrong. Got it.
This is the kind of “bro” I grew up with. I grew up in rural PA, not even the south, but guys would have huge confederate flags hanging from their trucks, wear cowboys boots and confederate flag belt buckles and, I’m not even kidding, dress themselves up in black face for costume day during high school spirit week.
These said guys are now rabid Trump supporters. I saw it growing up, so I know the mindset. They are also freaking out about athletes sitting down for the national anthem and they sure do love our police and military. I envy those of you that didn’t grow up around this ish because I felt like a damn outsider because I thought my peers were ridiculous.
*shudders* Perish the Thought!
…Also that Turquoise Ring on him is absolutely absurd (ive been laughing about that sh*t the past 5 minutes)
I think he was going for an introspective half smoulder in the header pic but his face looks like peak petulance and it’s skeeving me out.
I totally missed the ring! The stupid hat and the ridiculous attempt at smoldering distracted me.
If the only way you can effectively portray someone is through blackface, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG. Lil Wayne’s skin color is, like, way down on the list of things you need to convey the essence of Lil Wayne.
I echo what’s been said about this jerk. I will only add this: Jason, bless your heart and go with God.
Country music is full of racist misogynist homophobes. One of the reasons I cannot stand it. He is quite dim witted isn’t he?
He’s an idiot.
I laugh at his thinking people are too sensitive when he’s insulted by the term ‘bro-country’? WTF? Plus, this dude just gave an interview whining about how he got snubbed from the CMA nominations? WAA! Dude, maybe your music just isn’t good enough this year or maybe, you pissed off the wrong voters with your racist Halloween costume!
F#ck this guy and his GF. People should dress up like a fat country singer complete with an abandoned family in Crisco grease face and tweet him the results- with no malice of course.
Yes, that would be awesome
I just had the conversation with hubby about bro-country. He didn’t quite get it until I said, imagine either of our girls dressed up/acting out the lyrics to an aldean, FGL, Luke Bryan, Kip Moore song. Complete with daisy dukes, red solo cup, climbing on top of some douche’s pick up truck. He got it real quick. And for the record, not all country is as bad as this douche. Chris Stapleton, kasey musgraves, they’re doing it right.
Luke and Kip are stand up guys, bro country aside (though I do love their music, honestly). Hate everything about Aldean.
Add to that list of “doing it right” Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and Amanda Shires…I loathe this wave of bro-country. But they’re all so far outside the Nashville “machine” that a lot of people don’t get the chance to hear them. Tragic.
Aldean personifies easily half of the guys i grew up with. The hate-spouting, anti-“everybody who doesn’t look/sound/act like I do”, ‘MERICA crew. *shudder* They all look lime him, too. Mid-30s, greasy, booze-bloated. And until people like them pull their collective heads out of their asses and see that there’s a broader, cooler world out there away from the BassPro Shops parking lot, bro-country will still be a thing. Sad.
I’ll just continue to crank up Drive By Truckers in my Jeep and flip off those rebel flag-covered trucks as I pass by, pissing off the ‘ol boy network.
He also had no malice towards his wife when he started banging a Lakers cheerleader. Doesn’t take away from the fact that he did it, is a piece of crap
Didn’t read all the comments, so excuse me if I’m repeating that he comes off as both stupid and racist.
Omg, he just dug the hole deeper. May as well be digging a grave. What an absolutely tone-deaf response.
He is trash.
@ whoever said “chronic bloat face”
Ha ha ha