On a recent episode of ABC’s The View, co-host Sunny Hostin found herself in a passionate clash with fellow co-hosts Sara Haines and Joy Behar over country singer Jason Aldean’s new song, “Try That In A Small Town”. The track has sparked controversy, with some criticizing it for featuring imagery of Black Lives Matter protestors vandalizing cities while endorsing traditional values and “taking care of our own.”
As the panel discussed the divisive song, Sara Haines expressed the need for accountability beyond just Aldean. However, Joy Behar defended the singer’s right to create the video without censorship, despite labeling it as “deplorable and annoying.”
Sunny Hostin, in contrast, was less inclined to give Aldean the benefit of the doubt. She asserted that the singer was fully aware of the imagery he used in the video, especially since he hails from Macon, Georgia, which she described as “one of the most racist places” in the country. Hostin shared her personal connection to the issue, citing her parents’ experience as an interracial couple who were forced to leave South Carolina due to the Ku Klux Klan’s actions.
Throughout the segment, emotions ran high as the co-hosts debated Aldean’s intent and the implications of the song’s content. Sunny firmly voiced her belief that the song and video’s imagery were deliberate and reflected the singer’s embrace of divisive elements.
While Whoopi Goldberg also joined the conversation, expressing her thoughts on the song, the spotlight remained on Hostin’s powerful comments. Viewers at home took to Twitter to show support for her candid stance on the matter.
In response to the controversy, Jason Aldean defended his song in an Instagram story, denying any racist or pro-lynching sentiment. He clarified that the song had been released in May, and there was no reference to race in the lyrics or the video’s real news footage.
The discussion on The View highlighted the ongoing conversations around race in America and the complexities of addressing divisive content in the entertainment industry. As public figures engage in these discussions, it remains essential to foster open dialogue while recognizing the impact of art and media on social discourse.
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Written by:
Dana Sterling-Editor
