To some, country music is perceived as the music of the Republican Party: white, straight men belting out heavily accented refrains that drip of misogyny and whiskey. This assessment is not unfounded by any means. Over the last 10 years, 97% of the singers on “Year End Top Country Artist” lists were white. Kane Brown, who only came onto the country music scene in the last few years, is the only artist of color to crack the top ten.

Country music’s diversity issue extends beyond race. Using those same lists, over 80% of contributing artists were male. When looking exclusively at individual artists, those numbers are the same, and the percentage of individual artists that are white men is just over 75%. This problem has only gotten worse in recent years, which further raises the stakes for country music.

This brings us to Morgan Wallen. The slow-talkin’, mullet sportin’ Sneedville, Tennessee native exploded onto the Nashville scene, jumping to the number two artist on the charts in 2020. After releasing a record-breaking album in January, the young and flamboyant artist was poised to be the face of country music for years to come.

Then, on Feb. 2, TMZ released a video of Wallen returning home in a drunken state and spewing expletives and racial slurs.

The response to the video was rather immediate as Wallen’s songs were pulled from top radio stations across the country. Additionally, country music award agencies rescinded his eligibility and his label, Big Loud Records, suspended the singer’s contract. These are the natural consequences of furthering the exclusionary nature of country music and engaging in degrading rhetoric toward people of color. However, Wallen’s actions warrant a more substantial repudiation from the country music community itself.

Wallen is for country music what Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is for the Republican Party. Both are new faces with growing influence whose conduct is inflammatory, dangerous and plainly unacceptable. We were witnesses to a lack of accountability in the GOP as we watched violent insurrectionists invade the U.S. Capitol.

While Greene faced consequences for her unhinged rhetoric, the threat of further physical and social destruction will not be eliminated until the individuals and establishment that aided and abetted her rise deliver a ubiquitous and forceful rejection of her behavior. The same holds true for Wallen and his actions.

Country music needs to keep its foot on the pedal and send a very clear message that it will not condone racism, period.

This should be the case, especially when it is the genre’s biggest star. If country music does not hold Wallen accountable for his actions, they will deserve the reputation of bigotry and exclusion that has plagued, and will continue to plague, the industry. There should be no reconciliation for Wallen, no path to recovery and, unlike with SNL, no second chance. The minute the country music world brings him back into their embrace, it normalizes his behavior and absolves him of responsibility.

Individual stars in the industry need to condemn Wallen through their actions and their words. Artists such as Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini and Mickey Guyton have publicly denounced Wallen and his actions in the week since the incident, emphasizing that Wallen’s behavior was representative of the country music culture. Other artists, particularly those who have not felt the effects of being marginalized in a white male-dominated profession, need to speak out against bigotry as well.

Singers who have planned to tour with Wallen should disinvite him, even if it comes at a financial cost. This would not only send a message of condemnation to Wallen, but also to fans of country music. In the days following the controversial video, streams of Wallen’s songs skyrocketed, something that is certainly a reflection on the audience consuming the disgraced artist’s music. It’s no secret that country fans tend to be right of center politically and that the GOP is becoming a safe haven for racists. As such, a public disassociation by big-name artists, such as Luke Bryan with whom Wallen is slated to tour in 2021, may have a profound impact on the country music fan base.

The more time that passes before there is a full-throated repudiation of Wallen and his actions, the more difficult it will be for the country music industry to move past the incident. As with much social change and activism today, this is not a time for silence or choosing to withdraw from the conversation. It will take an involved effort by country stars demonstrating anti-bigotry to help mend the image of country music.

While Wallen has released an apology video in which he took responsibility for his actions, there is still work to be done. We are at the point in time where ignorance is not an excuse. The video in and of itself is not the last step because his apology lacked action. Yes, he said he does not want to be defended and yes, he said he “accepted some invitations from some amazing Black organizations and executives and leaders to engage in some very real and honest conversations.” But understanding is not enough, and he needs to engage in actively anti-racist leadership to have a chance of amending his image.

If country music ignores the manifestations of racism and sexism within it, and provides amnesty to those who flagrantly skirt the basics of human decency, the industry will deserve the scorn of the world.

_As part of the fight against racial injustice, The Maneater is encouraging readers to donate to Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that aims to teach students how to reform and understand racism in history rather than ignore it. Donate at: https://www.facinghistory.org/_

_Edited by Sofi Zeman | szeman@themaneater.com_