Last weekend, students at Ole Miss enjoyed a performance from country music's king of controversy: Morgan Wallen. His fans rejoiced at the news that Wallen would actually perform this year after he suddenly canceled his show at the university venue last April.
In 2023, Wallen had played one of his intended two nights of concerts at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, but canceled after his opening acts took the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately Morgan has lost his voice and is unable to perform tonight," announced the stadium. "Therefore, tonight's show has been canceled. Please make your way safely to the stadium exits." Attendees were refunded for their purchases the next day.
On Saturday (April 20), the "Whiskey Glasses" singer triumphantly returned to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. His performance comes after an arrest earlier this month
While in Nashville, Wallen, after a night of drinking, threw a chair off of the sixth floor roof of Chief's, a bar in the popular Broadway district. He was booked on three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. He was released on $15,250 bail early in the morning of April 8.
Wallen apologized for his action on X, formerly Twitter, the night before his performance at Ole Miss. He posted that he had "touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief's." He claimed to be "not proud" of his behavior and "accept[ed] responsibility" for the incident. He finished, writing that he has "the utmost respect for the officers working every day to keep us all safe." The chair which Wallen threw landed next to several police officers.
I didn't feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks. I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I'm not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility.
— morgan wallen (@MorganWallen) April 20, 2024
Fox News asked attendees of Wallen's Saturday night show about their thoughts on Wallen's arrest. Few exhibited any form of concern about his disruptive, illegal activities. One fan even found the chair throwing incident to be "really funny, not gonna lie."
Some attendees emphasized that they were grateful that "no one got hurt," but generally gave Wallen a pass for his behavior.
One referenced Wallen's song "Last Night," saying that he "just let the liquor talk" that fateful night.
Other fans attributed the behavior as just a Wallen-ism. One student admitted that she "kind of expected" his arrest. Her statement was echoed, with an attendee saying "That's kind of Morgan Wallen behavior...he's a rebel.
Another student explained that she "always" separates the music from the musician who performs it. Therefore, an artist's behavior outside of the recording studio and off of the stage isn't relevant. "Music, artist, different," she said.
One fan similarly separated Wallen's actions from his discography:
"I'm not excusing what he has done, but I still like his music, I'm still going to come see him."
However, a few Ole Miss students challenged this generally nonchalant attitude.
"He deserves a little bit of it, that was irresponsible of him," said one student of Wallen's arrest.
"No one's above the law," said another young man.
Bad behavior aside, Wallen's fans celebrated the singer's successful return to Ole Miss on Saturday. The country star, meanwhile, is awaiting a court date in Nashville on May 3. As of now, his ongoing One Night at a Time tour will have "no change."
