DARIUS RUCKER SAYS IT'S TIME TO FORGIVE MORGAN WALLEN FOR USING A RACIAL SLUR: HE'S ‘BECOME A BETTER PERSON SINCE THEN'

Country music star and Hootie and the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker recently told Rolling Stone that it's time for the country music community to forgive Morgan Wallen. Wallen found himself at the center of controversy in 2021 when he was caught on video using the N-word and other expletives. The backlash that followed included ratio stations temporarily suspending Wallen's music, his booking agent dropping him and the Academy of Country Music barring him from nominations at the 2021 awards.

"I think Morgan's become a better person since that," Rucker now told Rolling Stone. "I've known Morgan a long time. Since all that happened Morgan's tried to really better himself and become a better person and see the world in a much better, better way."

While Wallen has continued to earn blockbuster sales and his album "Dangerous: The Double Album" won the 2022 Academy of Country Music Award for album of the year, Rucker argued that Mallen is still not completely forgiven.

"You know, he's not forgiven. He's still not out for CMAs and ACMs," Rucker said. "They can say what they want, but the fact that Morgan Wallen is not up for entertainer of the year and those things is crazy. No one's selling more tickets than Morgan."

Wallen originally apologized for using a racial slur in a statement to TMZ that read: "I'm embarrassed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. 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."

Earlier this year, Wallen was arrested on reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct charges after he threw a chair from the rooftop of a Nashville bar.