Country music star Zach Bryan responded Tuesday to criticism over his upcoming song “Bad News” amid claims that it is critical of ICE, explaining that it is about his love for the country and anyone who uses it “as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are.”
A snippet of the song Bryan posted on Instagram Friday sparked outrage online, with some people calling out the Grammy-winning artist for allegedly taking aim at President Donald Trump’s unprecedented immigration raids.
In the song, Bryan sings: “And ICE is gonna come bust down your door, try to build a house no one builds no more, but I got a telephone, kids are all scared and all alone.”
That line quickly drew backlash online.
“I’m a Zach Bryan fan but will NOT be listening to this song or any other promoting violence,” one person wrote on X. “I’m disappointed in him to hear that he’s promoting a song that will amplify the violence in this country — but it will save me a lot of money on his tickets!”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also criticized the song, saying she hopes Bryan “understands how completely disrespectful that song is, not just to law enforcement but to this country, to every single individual that has ever stood up and fought for our freedoms.”
“He just compromised it all by putting out a product such as that attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe,” she told conservative commentator Benny Johnson in a video he shared on X.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that Bryan should “stick to Pink Skies, dude,” referring to his 2024 song.
In posts to his Instagram account’s Stories on Tuesday, Bryan said he wrote “Bad News” months ago, and it is “about how much I love the 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,” he said in an Instagram Story. “Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.”
Bryan, who recently set the record for the largest ticketed concert in the U.S., has in the past touched on politics, drawing the ire of conservatives in 2023 when he criticized backlash on Bud Light over its partnership with transgender social media personality Dylan Mulvaney.
Bryan, who served in the U.S. Navy, said the recent criticism over the song, which has not yet been released, makes him “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,” he said. “To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe 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!!!”
In another Instagram Story post, he added: “I am SO proud to have served in a country where we can speak freely and converse amongst each other without getting doxed or accosted on the internet or worse; the violence and heartbreak we’ve faced in the last few months!”
A representative for Bryan had no further comment on Wednesday.
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