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Country star responds to uproar over anti-ICE song

October 8, 2025 | | Print Article

Faced with condemnation for lyrics negative of law enforcement, country artist Zach Bryan’s statement to curb the Bud Light treatment found many wanting.

At a time when violent rhetoric against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in particular is especially high, the singer-songwriter saw fit to tease a song with lyrics that fearmongered they might “come bust down your door.” Though not as forthright as past fallouts with country fans like the Dixie Chicks or Maren Morris, reactions were hardly as forgiving as it appeared Bryan was hoping for as he issued a lengthy statement about his new song.

“I wrote this song months ago. I posted this song three months ago as a snippet. This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media,” began the social media post, even as the excerpt had been shared anew in recent days. “This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle.”

“Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back,” Bryan continued as he suggested those responding negatively were the ones at fault.

The U.S. Navy veteran of eight years went on, “I served this country, I love this country, and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn’t speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou a**hole, just a 29-year-old man who is just as confused as everyone else.”

As had been reported, the song “Bad News” speaks about the “fading of the red, white, and blue” as it refers to cops as “cocky motherf*ckers” and that “ICE is gonna come bust down your door.” Those lyrics prompted widespread criticism, including from country star John Rich, who reacted, “Nashville is full of guys like this.”

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Bryan’s first post went on, “To see how much sh*t is stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing, we’re all one bird and American. To be clear, I’m on neither of these radical sides. To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe in, just know I’m trying my best, too, and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes. Everyone have a great day and I love each and every one of ya!!!”

“The last few months of my life, I’ve been scrutinized by more people than I ever thought possible. I feel like I’ve tried my hardest in so many ways, and it’s so hard to see where my bearings even are anymore. Been falling off a cliff while trying to grow wings at the same time,” wrote the artist in a follow-up message. “I am SO proud to have served in a country where we can all speak freely and converse amongst each other without getting doxxed or accosted on the internet or worse, the violence and heartbreak we’ve faced in the last few months! God speed, ol sons, I’m out!”

Bryan’s statement isn’t the first time he’s had to walk back criticism of law enforcement, as in 2023, the musician released a statement following an arrest in Oklahoma. At the time, an alleged speeding violation had escalated into “interfering with an officer’s discharge of duties.”

During an exchange caught on video, a trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told Bryan, “You either get back in your truck or go to jail, I don’t care which,” prompting the response, “I’ll go to jail, let’s do it.”

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Additional footage featured the country artist railing, “F*cking cops are out of hand, truly,” before he would go on to release a statement that read in part, “Emotions got the best of me and I was out of line in the things I said. I support law enforcement as much as anyone can; I was just frustrated in the moment, it was unlike me, and I apologize.”

After his initial reaction to the uproar, Rich further suggested, “Zach Bryan has every right to record a song bashing law enforcement, and fans have every right to keep supporting his career, or not. Capitalism isn’t cancellation. Who knows, maybe there’s a large ‘anti law enforcement’ wing of the country music fanbase. We’ll soon find out.”

While it remains to be seen, early signs weren’t promising as responses to Bryan’s statement were about the same as responses to his lyrics.

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Kevin Haggerty
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