Recently, country music star Zach Bryan has been in the eye of a firestorm after some tweets dared to compare two music giants: Kanye West vs. Taylor Swift. His tweet said, “Eagles > Chiefs, Kanye > Taylor, who’s with me?” and quickly drew attention among fans and critics, particularly passionate Swifties.
Swift backlash came from the devoted Taylor Swift fans. Many took Bryan’s comment as more than a musical comparison to a personal attack against Swift and her boyfriend, NFL’s Travis Kelce. The situation continued to spiral out of control, as Bryan took down his X account not long after the controversy kicked off.
Bryan’s comments were all the more sensitive because there’s an underlying tension between Swift and West due to a very long history of public disputes. West has received heavy pushback for anti-Semitic remarks, among several other highly inflammatory statements; his infamous interruption of Swift at the 2009 MTV VMAs still looms large in pop culture.
In a heartfelt apology, Bryan took to Instagram to clear the air. He said he tweeted in a moment of bad judgment while under the influence: “Guys, I love Taylor. I was listening to TTPD last night, and’ thank you aIMee’ came on, and I drunkenly tweeted that about Kanye.”
”Imagine if somebody took that seriously, guys. Let me just say-I think I respect both artists a lot, and we’re in like, a really beautiful time of music.” He even mentioned “thanK you aIMee” he wrote, making sure to highlight how he never intended to disrespect Swift in any way. He said the tweet came off as rude and insensible, saying all he was trying to do was drunkenly compare two records.
Once the dust began to settle, Bryan deactivated his X account, leaving his fans in suspense over whether he would return. His page now reads, “This account does not exist.” In contrast, deactivated accounts can easily be restored within 30 days, so we will have to wait and see if he will return.
On Thursday, Bryan took to Instagram to post an emotional apology and describe his thought behind the tweet. “For the record, guys, I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night,” he wrote. “I was drunkenly comparing two records, and it came out wrong. I know there’s a lot of stuff that clouds around Ye, and I was speaking purely musically.”
This incident is a strong reminder of how fast things can go south on social media, especially when two favorite celebrities are involved, such as Swift and West. For now, Kanye West has not made any public comments about Bryan’s tweet, so much of the focus remains on Bryan’s apology and the reactions of Swift’s fans.
This incident is a stark reminder of how fast matters can go beyond one’s control on social media, especially in cases where it involves two cherished celebrities, such as Swift and West. For now, Kanye West has not spoken on Bryan’s tweet publicly, with much of the focus being on Bryan’s apology and the reactions of Swift’s fans.
Zach Bryan doesn’t shy away from controversy. He has weathered a few of late, including standing up for transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney against a boycott called by fellow artist Travis Tritt. That earned him some ire from a portion of his own fanbase- the latest example of a fractured, divided sense of opinion in country music. Bryan has also endured accusations of adultery at the start of this year, no less, further fanning the flames of media attention in regard to his personal life.
Indeed, talent and the milestones he has achieved in music remain unstoppable, notwithstanding his ups and downs. He is generally known for raw-hearted lyrics and has risen through the ranks rather fast. Born in Okinawa, Japan, Bryan grew up in Oologah, Oklahoma. Having served eight years in the U.S. Navy, he began writing and recording music; thus, he came into the limelight via YouTube.
He independently released his first album, a tribute to his late mother entitled DeAnn, in 2019. Then came Elisabeth in 2020. Bryan’s breakout came last year with his first major label release, American Heartbreak, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. His latest album, self-titled Zach Bryan, entered the charts this year at No. 1, adding to Bryan’s charge of evolving his sound with his continued ability to engage his audience.
Bryan’s music style runs the gamut from alt-country to Americana, and combined, he has sold more than 30 million albums and singles. He has been able to appeal to his audience because much of his writing is strong in lyrics that many people can identify with. That essentially has made fans loyal despite any controversial actions one may have.
As he moves forward from this latest incident, it’ll be interesting to see how Bryan navigates the complexities of fame and the expectations of his fan base. For now, he remains one of country music’s most well-known artists, recognized for his creativity, authenticity, and, of course, human moments on social media.
