– Sounds probably ignorant – VG

The incident happened in January this year, and in February, the video of a drunk Wallen shouting insults at his own friend was posted on the website TMZ.

Five months later, the 28-year-old has appeared in his very first “speak out” interview after the scandal, which for a period cost him his contract with Big Loud Records.

It’s the TV show «Good Morning America» and reporter Michael Strahan (49) who has got Wallen talking.

– My manager called me a couple of hours before the video was posted. He asked: “Are you sitting?”, Wallen says and adds that this is the first time he has been called with exactly that entrance.

Wallen further explains that he went home to a friend and that he was sitting there confused about what he should do – knowing that the video would spread.

The episode itself happened after three days of intense partying with friends. About the “N-word” he got rid of, he says that “it was just something that happened”.

– In our heads it was just a joke. It may sound ignorant, but that’s how it was. And that was wrong.

Excluded from star party

Not only the record company reacted strongly. His songs were removed from many playlists and banned on radio stations, and the invitation to the then imminent Country Music Awards was withdrawn.

Wallen, best known for the hit song “Whiskey Glasses”, admits in the TV interview that it was not the first time he used the word, but that it did not happen often. Only if he hung out with certain friends.

He goes on to say that the man he commented on is one of his best friends, and that the statement was made when he was to ask the man’s girlfriend to take care of him, because he was so drunk.

– I did not mean it in any derogatory way at all, says a clearly depressed Wallen, who today claims he knows better.

Reporter Strahan says that he himself has been called the “N-word”, and that it “does not feel good at all”. He then asks Wallen if he understands why the word is so outrageous.

Wallen replies that he does not know how to put himself in the place of black people, but that he understands it sounds ignorant when he says that he himself used the word jokingly.

Have been to rehab

The musician states that he checked in for a month-long rehab stay after the incident, to find out if he has an alcohol problem.

The country artist also apologized when the video was published, both in writing and a video on social media:

– I’m embarrassed and sorry. I made unacceptable and inappropriate racism statements that I wish I could withdraw. There is no excuse for this type of language. I sincerely apologize and promise to sharpen up, “It sounded at the time.

After his apology, Wallen has climbed to the top of the country charts in the USA again with songs from the album “Dangerous: The Double Album”, and he is this year’s bestseller in his genre.

Part of the income from record sales is donated to the organization Black Music Action Coalition.

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