NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville council members have rejected plans to place a glowing sign at Morgan Wallen's new bar along the city's neon-lit strip of honky tonks, citing his use of racial slurs that sparked controversy in 2021 and recent criminal charges alleging the country star was accused of throwing a chair off a roof next to two police officers.
The Nashville Metro Council voted 30-3 Tuesday night to reject the proposed sign at Morgan Wallen's This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen, which opens this weekend. The sign would have hung above a public sidewalk, similar to those of many neighboring bars. Such a sign requires local government approval and is usually not a controversial process.
During the debate, council members called Wallen's comments hateful and his actions harmful. They also said the artist has been given multiple second chances.
“I don't want to see a billboard with the name of someone throwing chairs off balconies and making racist comments,” said Councilwoman Delishia Porterfield, who is Black.
Councilman Jacob Kupin presented the proposal, but said he had “thought long and hard” about what to do because of Wallen's behavior. He said the third-party organization that manages the business, TC Restaurant Group, has been “a really good partner” and has worked to make downtown Nashville safer.
The Associated Press contacted Wallen's publicist and TC Restaurant Group seeking comment on the council's vote.
“Just because someone's name appears on the bar does not mean we condone all behavior, but again, I appreciate the efforts to make amends, the positive response, and again, the operator himself I don't think should be . punished for what happened,” Kupin said.
An initial hearing in Wallen's criminal case was postponed until August 15. The chair that Wallen is accused of throwing from the roof of the six-story Chief's bar on April 7 landed about six feet, according to an arrest affidavit. police officers. Witnesses told officers they saw Wallen pick up a chair, throw it off the roof and laugh about it.
He faces three misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
In a statement from Wallen, he said he accepted “responsibility” and was “not proud” of his behavior. The statement mentioned making “changes” and touching law enforcement.
Wallen's album 'One Thing at a Time' topped the Billboard 200 for 16 weeks in 2023 and was the most consumed album in the US last year. Top 10 hits from the album included 'Last Night', 'You Proof' and 'Thinkin' Bout Me'.
In 2021, Wallen was suspended indefinitely from his label after a video surfaced of him shouting a racial slur, which he would later say he did not know he was using.
Kid Rock's bar, not far from Red Light District's new establishment, was the site of a previous sign controversy. Ahead of the 2019 vote, some council members complained about the design featuring a giant guitar with the base of the instrument deliberately shaped like a woman's buttocks. Finally they approved it.
