Zach Bryan defends anti-ICE song after backlash
Country singer Zach Bryan has responded to criticism over his new song 'Bad News,' which includes anti-ICE lyrics, by emphasizing his love for the country and clarifying its context. The 29-year-old artist, a military veteran, posted a lengthy defense on Instagram amid accusations of disrespecting law enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the track as disrespectful to officers and the nation.
Zach Bryan, a 29-year-old country recording artist and Navy veteran, released the song 'Bad News,' which features lyrics criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The track includes lines such as: 'My friends are all degenerates, but they’re all I got/ the generational story of dropping the plot/ I heard the cops came, Cocky motherf****s, ain’t they?' and 'And ICE is gonna come bust down your door/try to build a house no one builds no more/but I got a telephone/ Kids are all scared and all alone/The bar stopped bumping, the rock stopped rolling /the middle fingers rising, and it won’t stop showing/ Got some bad news /The fading of the red, white, and blue.'
The song drew backlash for its timing, coinciding with rising incidents of violence against ICE officers. Bryan addressed the criticism in an Instagram Story, insisting listeners were missing the 'full context.' 'I love this country,' he wrote. He explained: 'This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media. This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.'
Bryan, who served in the military, added: 'I served this country, I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn’t speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou a*hole, just a 29-year-old man who is just as confused as everyone else.' He expressed embarrassment and fear over the reaction: 'To see how much sh it stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing we’re all one bird and American. To be clear I’m on neither of these radical sides.' He noted increased scrutiny in recent months and pride in America's free speech protections.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem responded critically on Tuesday during an interview with conservative podcast host Benny Johnson. 'I hope he understands how completely disrespectful that song is, not just to law enforcement but to this country,' she said. 'To every single individual that has stood up and fought for our freedoms. He just compromised it all by putting out a product such as that, that attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe.' Noem added: 'Zach, I didn’t listen to your music. I’m happy about that today. Today, that makes me very happy that I never once gave you a single penny to enrich your lifestyle. I am going to go out and probably download some Jason Aldean, John Rich, Kid Rock, and Jon Pardi songs.'