Morgan Wallen will be persona non grata at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards next month after being caught on video using the N-word three months ago.
Wallen was caught using the racial slur on January 31 while talking to his friends, and TMZ posted video of the exchange on February 2.
The country superstar apologized for his actions a week later, but has been punished several ways since, including the suspension of his record label contract and being yanked from another awards show, the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Now, he’s being banned from attending the Billboard Music Awards, although that hasn’t prevented him from being nominated in several categories.
Morgan Wallen has been barred from next month’s Billboard Music Awards
Despite the ban, the country artist still received six nominations in five categories
Wallen has been nominated for six Billboard Music Awards: Top Song Sales Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, Top Country Album, and two separate nominations for Top Country Song.
Dick Clark Productions, which leads the production for the awards, explained why Wallen was nominated in so many categories this year in a statement on Thursday.
‘Unique among awards shows, Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) finalists are determined by performance on the Billboard charts, and are not chosen by a voting committee or membership organization,’ the statement reads.
‘BBMA finalists and winners are based on key fan interactions with music (including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, social engagement), tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including MRC Data.’
Wallen was returning from a night out when he was heard shouting the N-word
He was outside of his home when he said the slur, which was captured by a neighbor
The statement went on to say that Wallen’s performance on these charts is the reason he’s a finalist in six categories.
‘Morgan Wallen is a finalist this year based on charting. As his recent conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting),’ the statement continues.
Dick Clark Productions also shared that they will be evaluating him down the road in regards to future appearances at the show.
‘It is heartening and encouraging to hear that Morgan is taking steps in his anti-racist journey and starting to do some meaningful work. We plan to evaluate his progress and will consider his participation in future shows,’ the statement concludes.
While the ban on Wallen means he won’t be present or video-linked in the event he wins any of the six awards, it’s unclear what the awards show’s COVID-19 protocols will be and if all the nominees will be present.
Wallen has issued several apologies in the aftermath of the video’s release in February
During last week’s Academy Awards, for instance, some award winners didn’t appear at all, including Best Actor winner Anthony Hopkins, due to a reported aversion to featuring video-linked acceptances.
Wallen faced immediate backlash in February after video of him using a racial slur emerged on TMZ.
Wallen was heard on a recording made by a neighbor using the slur as he chatted with friends while returning to his Nashville home.
He was heard saying of an acquaintance, ‘Take care of this p**** a** n*****’ and ‘take care of this p**** a** mother******’ as he entered his home.
‘I’m embarrassed and sorry,’ the country music artist, 27, told TMZ, which made the video public. ‘I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back.’
He continued, ‘There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better.’
Wallen also wrote a lengthy apology, which he posted to his Twitter account
The country music superstar also issued a lengthy apology post in April in the aftermath of the scandal.
‘I let so many people down,’ the apology post read. ‘I let my parents down and they’re the furthest thing from the person in that video. I let my son down, and I’m not okay with that.’
The consequences were swift, with Entertainment Weekly reporting that Wallen was suspended from his record contract, taken off radio airplay, and disqualified from the 2021 CMAs in the aftermath of the video being posted.
‘The Academy does not condone or support intolerance or behavior that does not align with our commitment and dedication to diversity and inclusion,’ the Academy of Country music said in a statement at the time.
Not all of the fallout for Wallen was negative, though, as the artist actually saw a surge in song and album sales days after the video’s release.
MEAWW reports five songs of Wallen’s hit the top 10 of iTunes’ song sales chart in the immediate aftermath of the video’s release.
Additionally, he temporarily occupied the top three spots for iTunes’ album sales chart as well.
Wallen is no stranger to controversy, as he was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct in May 2020 after getting kicked out of a downtown Nashville bar.
In October, ‘Saturday Night Live’ dropped him from a scheduled performance on their show after he violated COVID-19 protocols when videos appeared on social media of him partying with fans in Alabama.
He was later invited back on the show in December, where he appeared in a skit making fun of himself.
The Billboard Awards will air live on Sunday, May 23 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on NBC.
Despite Wallen’s six nominations, he’s not the leading country music nominee – that goes to breakthrough singer Gabby Barrett, who is the most-nominated woman with nine bids.
She dominated both the country and pop charts with her Charlie Puth-assisted hit ‘I Hope,’ and she´s up for honors like top new artist, top Hot 100 song, top radio song, top country album and top collaboration. She´s the sole woman nominated for top country artist and top country song.
Others who scored multiple nominations include Bad Bunny, Chris Brown, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Justin Bieber.
