Zach Bryan, the popular country music star, has found himself in hot water after a controversial post on X (formerly Twitter) that mentioned Kanye West and Taylor Swift.
The post, which Bryan has since deleted, caused a massive backlash from Swift’s passionate fanbase, known as the Swifties. The incident began on September 17, 2024, when Bryan tweeted, “eagles > chiefs” followed by “Kanye > Taylor,” ending with “who’s with me?” This remark quickly went viral, sparking an intense response from Swifties.
Bryan took to Instagram the next day to apologize for the commotion his post had created. He explained that the tweet came from an intoxicated period when he was comparing two recordings, and that it was not intended to target Taylor Swift specifically.
He wrote, “For the record guys, I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night. I was drunkenly comparing two records, and it came out wrong.” Bryan also emphasized that his comments were purely musical and not meant to stir any personal drama between the artists.
Bryan terminated his X account in response to the anger from Swift’s supporters. However, the talk did not conclude there. Screenshots of the message remained popular on social media, sparking further discussion.
Bryan made it plain on his Instagram story that he was not targeting Taylor Swift. “I love Taylor’s music and pray you know guys know I’m human and tweet stupid things often,” he told the crowd. Despite his apologies, the harm had already been done, and Swifties continued to express their disappointment.
The debate over Bryan’s post also drew attention to Kanye West, a figure who is still divisive owing to previous incidents. West was highly attacked for his anti-Semitic social media remarks in 2022, hence Bryan’s comparison between him and even more sensitive.
Many Swift fans were not only upset about the musical comparison but also uncomfortable with the positive mention of West.
Also Read: 50 Cent Trolls Diddy Over Bottles Of Lube Seized By Authorities Following His Arrest
Bryan, recognizing the misstep, apologized once again, stating that his post was made during a difficult time in his life. He confessed that the tweet came off as “rude and desensitized” toward Taylor Swift, someone he respects deeply. “To be completely honest, it just came off as rude and desensitized to Taylor,” he wrote. He added that he was projecting his own struggles and didn’t intend for the post to be taken seriously.
Throughout the episode, Bryan insisted that he did not mean any harm and that he regretted his tweet. He ended by encouraging his followers not to drink and tweet, a lesson he’d learned the hard way.
Bryan has temporarily removed himself from social media, leaving supporters to worry when or if he will return. Despite his earnest apologies, the scandal serves as a reminder of how rapidly things can spiral out of control on social media, particularly when fans believe their favorite musicians have been slighted.
