The nation singer delivered his first main awards present efficiency since he was caught on digital camera utilizing a racial slur, a 12 months after he was banned from the trophy-fest.
Throughout Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards, Morgan Wallen had his first main awards present efficiency since he was caught on digital camera utilizing a racial slur.
Wallen’s efficiency on the 2022 present follows his earlier ban from the ceremony amid backlash to a February 2021 video during which he could possibly be heard yelling the N-word and different expletives.
The nation singer, who went into the evening up for 4 awards this 12 months, took the stage to carry out “Don’t Suppose Jesus” earlier than transitioning right into a efficiency of “Wasted on You.” He didn't handle his previous controversy.
Afterward within the evening, Wallen gained for high nation male artist. “I received one of the best rattling followers. Thanks to my momma for being my date tonight. I wouldn’t be right here with out you. Thanks to the Billboards for inviting me right here,” he mentioned. He additionally thanked his household, buddies and son for “inspiring” him.
BBMA producer MRC Dwell & Various mentioned that the choice to ebook Wallen to carry out got here after in depth inside discussions. “We oppose discrimination, harassment, or racism of any form,” MRC mentioned in a press release obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “We imagine in treating everybody with dignity and respect. After an intensive evaluation and strong discussions internally and with the artist’s group, during which we discovered a demonstrated and ongoing dedication to significant work and outreach, we prolonged an invite to take part on this 12 months’s present.”
The Billboard Music Awards ceremony is produced by MRC Dwell & Various, a division of MRC, which is a co-owner of The Hollywood Reporter via a three way partnership with Penske Media titled P-MRC.
Forward of the present, Sean “Diddy” Combs, who's internet hosting and govt producing the Billboard Music Awards, addressed having Wallen and Travis Scott be a part of the performers lineup — at Scott’s Astroworld Fest in Houston final November, 10 individuals died and a whole lot have been injured.
“Folks make errors. Now we’re transferring on with love and respect for everyone that was damage or affected. It’s time to forgive. To have Morgan and Travis be capable of come again and contact the stage once more with the mindset of getting a second probability at life. All people within the room is getting a second probability at life, you already know, as a result of we’re again inside with no masks on. We want love and I’m enthusiastic about celebrating that,” Combs mentioned in an interview withBillboard.
Throughout an look onGood Morning America final July, in his first TV interview in regards to the launched footage, Wallen revealed that he checked himself right into a rehab facility after the incident. The singer additionally shared that the footage was taken whereas he was on “hour 72 of a 72-hour bender.”
Wallen additionally mentioned that he didn’t continuously use the slur, solely round a “sure group of buddies” who “say dumb stuff collectively.” “It was — in our minds, it’s playful,” Wallen mentioned. “That sounds ignorant, nevertheless it — that’s actually the place it got here from.”
Following the discharge of the N-word footage, the singer’s recording contract with Huge Loud Information was suspended indefinitely and CMT introduced that it was eradicating the singer’s appearances from its platforms. iHeart Media additionally pulled Wallen’s music and content material from its stations, whereas SiriusXM and Pandora eliminated the singer’s music from its playlists, based on a spokesman for SiriusXM. Wallen was additionally not too long ago dropped by WME.
Final 12 months, Wallen took residence the Billboard Music Awards for high nation artist, nation male artist and high nation album. In March, Wallen gained album of the 12 months on the Academy of Nation Music Awards for Harmful: The Double Album, a 12 months after he was faraway from the ACMs poll.
This 12 months he's a finalist in 4 classes, together with High Billboard 200 Artist, High Nation Artist, High Nation Male Artist and High Billboard 200 Album. Wallen’s album Harmful: The Double Album, has led the highest nation albums chart for a record-breaking 55 weeks.
The 2022 Billboard Music Awards, hosted by Combs, aired stay from the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas on NBC and Peacock.