Country singer Morgan Wallen had the biggest selling album of 2021, despite being canceled after being caught using the N-word and getting banned from awards shows.
via: Page Six
Despite the “Dangerous” country singer’s untenable use of the N-word in February, Wallen, 28, had the biggest selling album of 2021, trampling the musical efforts of pop icons such as Olivia Rodrigo, 18, Drake, 35, and Adele, 33.
And music lovers cannot believe their ears.
“Lol Morgan Wallen said the N-word and bounced back,” tweeted one shocked fan. “Morgan Wallen said the N word and is now making songs with Lil Durk. Anything is possible,” commented another, noting Wallen’s recent collaboration with the Chicago rapper for song “Broadway Girls.”
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Wallen’s latest anthology, “Dangerous: The Double Album,” sold over 3 million copies. It eclipsed Rodrigo’s highly acclaimed “Sour” EP, which did 2.6 million in sales, and Drake’s commendable “Certified Lover Boy” compilation, which moved 1.8 million units, per music analytics provider MRC Data.
The “Sand in My Boots” strummer’s guitar-centric grooves even bested Adele’s critically esteemed “30” album, which raked in a shocking 1.4 million in sales.
Wallen’s best-selling bragging rights come mere months after he was caught on camera telling a friend: “Hey, take care of this “p – – – y ass motherf – – ker. Take care of this p – – – y ass n – – – – r,” at his home in Tennessee following a “72-hour bender.”
He checked himself into a 30-day substance rehabilitation center after his rant went viral.
And the incident led to the “Wasted on You” wailer’s label, Big Loud Records, suspending his contract, iHeartRadio pulling his songs from its major radio networks and the American Music Awards and Country Music Awards banning him from their respective ceremonies.
“Morgan Wallen is a nominee this year based on charting. As his conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting),” the AMAs said in a statement ahead of its award show in November, noting it would “consider” future participation after Wallen showed he was an “ally to the black community.”
The CMAs also uninvited Wallen from its annual awards gala, and removed him as a nominee in solo artist categories; however, he retained his nod in categories that recognized him alongside other collaborators, such as album of the year.
His rescinded invites notwithstanding, Wallen’s album enjoyed a massive 1,220% increase in digital album sales and a 327% increase in song sales immediately following the incident, according to Rolling Stone.
And in July, the “Still Going Down” vocalist said his album was already being “well received” before it realized a “spike” in sales following his hateful comments.
“Before this incident my album was already doing well,” Wallen explained to “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan. “It was already being well received by critics and by fans. Me and my team noticed that whenever this whole incident happened that there was spike in my sales.”
Wallen went on to deem his “playful” use of the N-word “ignorant.”
“I was around some of my friends, and we just, we say dumb stuff together,” said the “Cover Me Up” crooner. “In our minds it’s playful. I don’t know if it sounds ignorant, but that’s really where it came from.”
Elsewhere, in an Instagram apology, Wallen said, “I was wrong. It’s on me to take ownership of this and I fully accept any penalties I’m facing.” He also asked fans to stop defending his inexcusable behavior.
Sounds about white.
