Country singer Morgan Wallen cried foul over the weekend after large, public celebrations of Joe Biden's apparent presidential election victory over Donald Trump garnered sizable crowds at a time when live music as we knew it is still on an indefinite hiatus, writing that "the hypocrisy is unreal" on an Instagram story.
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"If you don't agree with me, fine, we can still be friends, but I have a family, band and crew that need to be taken care of," Wallen wrote in an Instagram story. "If it's O.K. for us to party in the streets with no 'social distancing' then we can book shows right now."
Wallen wasn't the only country music personality taking to social media this past weekend to ask about the difference between partying over Biden and Kamala Harris' projected win and returning to some level of live music normalcy.
Country star Chase Rice, who's been on the wrong end of coronavirus pandemic criticism, said his piece online, as did Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley and Jason Aldean's wife, Brittany.
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COVID-19 protocols have shelved more than touring for the "Whiskey Glasses" singer. Saturday Night Live (SNL) cancelled 27-year-old Wallen's appearance on the show in October after TikTok videos spread of the country singer partying maskless in a crowded bar and at a house party in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The long-running NBC series replaced Wallen on its Oct. 10 episode with musical guest Jack White. Comedian Bill Burr hosted that week's episode.
"I wish I could have made country music and my fans proud this Saturday, but I respect the decision once again," Wallen said on October, as quoted by CNN. "Lorne Michaels (the creator of SNL) actually gave me a lot of encouragement by letting me know we'll find another time to make this up so that means a lot to me, thank you."
Wallen says he's reaccessed his behavior since the show's decision.
"It was almost a good thing for me," he told Bobby Bones on The Bobbycast (as quoted by Pop Culture). "It kind of forced me away, just to kind of reflect and look at myself and kind of get to know myself again and it was good for me. So I took like a while, almost two weeks, and just turned my phone off and just didn't even look at it. [I] drove on a tractor and things like that and just cleared my head. It was really, really good for me. I don't really love the circumstances that led to that but I'm thankful for where it led me."
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