Zach Bryan. Photo by Trevor Pavlik
Country music star Zach Bryan made headlines on Saturday (October 3) after he shared a snippet of a new song containing lyrics some took as criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): “I heard the cops came, cocky motherfuckers, ain’t they?/ And ICE is gonna come bust down your door / Try to build a house that no one builds no more / But I got a telephone / Kids are scared and all alone." After a torrent of criticism from conservative politicians and commentators, Bryan has said that the snippet has been "misconstrued."
"I posted this song three months ago as a snippet," Bryan shared via an Instagram story. "This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media. 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."
Bryan continues: "To see how much shit it 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."
Soon after the snippet began to spread, the federal government responded. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of public affairs for the United States Department of Homeland Security, told TMZ Bryan should "stick to [his 2024 song] 'Pink Skies'" while DHS used the Bryan song "Revival" in a social media post. Several conservative figures also suggested that Bryan could face a boycott over the lyrics.