Morgan Wallen should be forgiven years after his controversial racial slur incident, Darius Rucker said.
On July 2, Rucker appeared on the "Rolling Stone Music Now" podcast where he spoke about Wallen being a "better person" after the 2021 racial slur controversy.
"I've known Morgan a long time. Since all that happened, Morgan's tried to really better himself and become a better person and see the world in a much better, better way," said the 58-year-old "Wagon Wheel" singer.
According to Rucker, the public has not forgiven Wallen three years after the incident despite the 31-year-old musician's success in the music industry. He noted that no one can sell more tickets than Wallen.
The issue began in February 2021 when the "Last Night" singer was recorded using the N-word during a night out in Nashville after releasing his second studio album, Dangerous: The Double Album. TMZ released a copy of the video in question.
"I'm embarrassed and sorry," Wallen said after the issue. "I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better."
Despite the apology, Big Loud Records issued a statement announcing the suspension of Morgan's contract. His agency, William Morris Endeavour, also dropped him.
The CMA Awards later banned and snubbed him for its ceremony at the time; the 2021 American Music Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards followed the same move.
Meanwhile, radio stations and streaming websites also blocked him from the platforms.
Wallen told Michael Strahan on ABC's Good Morning America that he did not use the word to degrade his friend. However, he reportedly knew he was still wrong.
In a separate interview with Billboard, the "Thought You Should Know" singer opened up about the incident and revealed his realization.
"There's no excuse. I've never made an excuse. I never will make an excuse," he shared. "I've talked to a lot of people, heard stories [about] things that I would have never thought about because I wasn't the one going through it."
Wallen found himself in hot water again when he allegedly threw a chair from a local rooftop bar in April. He was arrested afterward.
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