Jason Aldean‘s music video for his highly popular “Try That in a Small Town” track, has been edited to remove images of a Black Lives Matter demonstration following severe criticism that the song contained threats against Black people.
The video, which was originally shared on YouTube on July 14, is now shorter by six seconds following the deletion of a news clip from Fox 5 Atlanta, which depicted violent confrontations during Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020 and subsequent protests in January.
Aldean’s record label, BBR Music Group, said in a statement that “the video footage was edited due to third party copyright clearance issues.”
Several changes have been made in the video over the past week as critics claim the visual was promoting racism and gun violence, with lyrics like: “Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that s**t might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / You cross that line, it won’t take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don’t / Try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road/ Around here, we take care of our own.”
Aldean filmed most of the video in front of the massive American flag displayed on the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. The visual was interlaced with clips of protesters vandalizing cities in the wake of police brutality and racial unrest during the height of the pandemic, and most of it remains in the video’s current version.
Aldean said in a statement that the the lyrics reference “the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief.”
(Photo: Joseph Llanes)
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