Country singer Jason Aldean was criticized for his anti-protest song because "there's nothing American about promoting violence."

Although Aldean claims that Try That in a Small Town is a celebration of community despite the song's lyrics, which have caused it to be taken off Country Music Television, threatening violence against demonstrators,

One of the biggest names in US country music, Jason Aldean, has come under fire for his new song, Try That in a Small Town, and accompanying music video, which contains threats of violence against police demonstrators.

Cuss out a cop, spit in his face, stomp on the flag, put it on fire, and more lines are among the lyrics of the song. You do believe you're tough, don't you? Try that in a small town and see how far you can get because here, we take care of our own.

Aldean then alludes to the idea that the US government is planning to gather up its inhabitants, singing, "Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they're gonna round up / Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck."

Interspersed throughout the film are scenes of angry demonstrators and police clashing. The Maury County courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where the performance portion of the video was filmed, has a sad past. There, a Black man named Henry Choate was lynched there in 1927.

Country Music Television has since taken the video off of their channel, but hasn't offered any explanations or justifications for the action. It is still available on YouTube, where it has received more than

Sheryl Crow is one of the critics of Aldean, who has received a lot of backing from right-wing commenters. She said on Twitter: "I'm from a tiny town. Even in small communities, people are tired of violence. Promoting violence is not small-town or even American. Having experienced a major shooting, you ought to know it better than anyone. This is not like a little town in America. It's absolutely pathetic.

When Aldean was performing at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas in October 2017, the bloodiest mass shooting in recent US history occurred, which is the shooting Crow is referring to. Despite 60 people being killed and 867 injured, he and his band managed to escape unscathed.

Try That In a Small Town is defended by Aldean, who disputes assertions that song makes reference to the Black Lives Matter movement. He claimed on Twitter that "I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song" and that "I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests." These references are risky in addition to being worthless. Not a single line of the song's lyrics makes any sort of

Added him:

For me, the phrase "Try That In a Small Town" describes the sense of belonging I experienced as a child, where we looked out for one another regardless of our backgrounds or religious beliefs. Because, despite our differences, they were our neighbors. My political beliefs have never been a secret, and I am aware that many Americans disagree with how to return to a state of normalcy where we can go at least a day without reading a headline that keeps us up at night. But this song is about the yearning for it to happen.

The pro-gun control Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones tweeted: "We have a duty to denounce Jason Aldean's disgusting song inciting for racist violence. What a despicable illustration of gun vigilantism and bigotry.

But Aldean's supporters came to his aid.

The media, according to one comment on the YouTube video, "celebrate" rap songs that glorify violence, "but a country singer's video about self defense and neighbors watching out for each other is banned."

Aldean referred to his 2017 performance at a music event outside in Las Vegas in his post, where a shooter opened fire from a hotel room, killing 58 people.

The outspoken conservative Aldean declared, "NO ONE, INCLUDING ME, wants to continue seeing senseless headlines or families torn apart."