Nashville councilmembers have voted against plans for a glowing sign to be installed at country star Morgan Wallen’s new bar on the city’s famous honky-tonk strip.
The decision comes in the wake of Wallen’s past controversies, including his use of a racial slur in 2021 and recent criminal charges accusing him of throwing a chair off a rooftop near two police officers.
The Nashville Metro Council voted 30-3 on Tuesday evening to reject the proposed sign at Morgan Wallen’s This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen, which is set to open its doors this weekend. The sign would have been similar to those at many neighboring bars, hanging over a public sidewalk. Typically, such signs require local government approval and are not considered controversial.
During the debate, councilmembers expressed their concerns about Wallen’s past behavior, calling his comments hateful and his actions harmful. They also pointed out that the performer has been given multiple second chances. Councilmember Delishia Porterfield, who is Black, stated, “I don’t want to see a billboard up with the name of a person who is throwing chairs off of balconies and who is saying racial slurs.”
Councilmember Jacob Kupin, who presented the proposal, acknowledged that he had to think carefully about what to do in light of Wallen’s behavior. However, he noted that the third-party organization managing the business, TC Restaurant Group, has been a good partner and has worked to make downtown Nashville safer.
Wallen’s criminal case, which involves three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, has been postponed until August 15. The incident occurred on April 7, when Wallen allegedly threw a chair off the roof of a six-story bar, landing about a yard (meter) from two police officers.
In a statement, Wallen accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed that he was not proud of his behavior. He also mentioned making amends and touching base with law enforcement.
Despite the controversy, Wallen’s music career has continued to thrive, with his album “One Thing at a Time” spending 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 in 2023 and being the most-consumed album in the U.S. last year.
The decision to reject the sign for Wallen’s bar comes after a similar controversy surrounding Kid Rock’s bar, which featured a sign with a giant guitar shaped like a woman’s buttocks. Despite some councilmembers’ objections, that sign was ultimately approved in 2019.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.