Morgan Wallen gave his millions of social media followers an update on his personal journey with a four-part, hand-written letter on April 13 that noted “mistakes” and making “amends.”
In February 2021, Morgan Wallen posted a five-minute personal video on YouTube titled “Update from me.” Within, the country star made a “long overdue” apology, following his highly-publicized use of a racial slur while intoxicated in Nashville, Tennessee.
While Wallen’s country music career had been soaring prior to his use of the slur, his personal life had been littered with controversy. Before footage hit the internet of his racial slur, the musician was arrested in May 2020 for public intoxication and disorderly conduct on Nashville’s Lower Broadway (charges were abandoned in July 2020). Then, in October 2020, Saturday Night Live canceled his appearance as its musical guest. The cancellation came over his violation of COVID-19 protocols while partying with fans during a weekend in Alabama.
Tuesday, Morgan Wallen released his first personal statement since his February update. In a four-part, hand-written letter posted to his 2 million Instagram followers and half a million Twitter followers, Wallen got candid about how the past few years have affected him—and more importantly—those around him.
“So many things have happened since I’ve had the opportunity to speak to my fans”
“So many things have happened since I’ve had the opportunity to speak to my fans,” he pens in the open letter. “I haven’t even had the chance to share my feelings on what has happened with my music & the Dangerous album, & it’s important to me that I do that first [for] y’all…”
Speaking to the unprecedented success of Dangerous, the country star says that “before the music came out, I was proud of it. I felt fulfilled. As a musician, that is the best feeling in the world… Being happy with your music before you even hear it. If you feel that way, then you can live with the reaction, I guess…”
In regards to addressing Dangerous before his behavior, Morgan Wallen says he shares all the “honor” this album brings directly with fans, and that he “will always feel the need to show that gratitude.”
“I’ve made some mistakes, I’m figuring those out, and I apologized because I was truly sorry”
The second page of Wallen’s open letter then delves into the controversy that has defined the last few months of his life.
“2020… Man. What a tough year for so many. For me, my tough year carried into 2021,” he continues. “I’ve made some mistakes, I’m figuring those out, and I apologized because I was truly sorry & have been making my amends,” he adds in reference to his February “Update from Me” apology.
To this end, Wallen feels he has “really worked on” himself in his couple months away.
“I’m proud of the work I’ve put in,” he cites, adding that he’s “thankful to have had the time to do it.”
“I’ve needed this time off. I came to Nashville at 22. I never really gave myself a chance to survey the man I became during that time,” he adds.
Wallen does, however, say he can “see a big difference between 22-year-old me and 27-year-old me,” a statement many fans can surely relate to.
“I hope there’s a big difference between the 27-year-old me now and the 32-year-old me someday… I will always strive to be better,” he promises, before noting that his time away has also “revealed ways in which” he wants to improve himself.
Morgan Wallen Cancels All 2021 Tour Dates in Personal Letter
Moreover, Morgan Wallen says he is “still very proud of who I am & the man I am becoming,” emboldening the sentence with his pen. Although the country star is proud of the work he’s put in, Wallen also reveals he needs “more time” to work on himself. As a result, he “will not be performing tour dates this summer.”
“[This] means I won’t be playing festivals or the Luke Bryan tour dates. But it is important to me, personally,” he continues, “if you can, still go to these shows & support country music. Country music is back & that’s a beautiful damn thing.”
In conclusion, the singer-songwriter lets fans know he is “back in Nashville getting back into the swing of things. And you guys can rest assured that I am looking forward to giving you guys what you deserve… Especially after all you’ve done for me,” he tells his fans. “My story is far from over, and getting back out to see y’all is all I can think about. So just know you’ll be seeing me sooner than later.
Love ya, Morgan”
For far more from the Dangerous musician, read Morgan Wallen‘s full letter to fans below:
