Maren Morris Says Her Family Got ‘Scary’ Death Threats After Calling Out Wallen

Maren Morris went through a frightening period after she called out Morgan Wallen three years ago, particularly concerning her young son.

In a recent interview on the podcast Work in Progress posted Thursday (Aug. 29), the 34-year-old musician discussed the backlash she faced after criticizing the “Last Night” singer for using a racial slur in 2021. “I mean, the death threat portion for me as a young mother was obviously scary,” Morris shared with host Sophia Bush. “And it wasn’t death threats against me. It was against my son, too. So it’s like, ‘Oh, wow. Now we’re involving the kids, the ones that you cared so much about.'”

Morris’ son Hayes, whom she shares with her ex-husband, songwriter Ryan Hurd, was less than a year old when a video of Wallen using the N-word started making rounds. Alongside country stars Kelsea Ballerini and Mickey Guyton, Morris criticized Wallen’s behavior. She tweeted, “We all know it wasn’t his first time using that word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs with no recourse.”

Reflecting on the harsh responses to her tweet, Morris said on Work in Progress, “You’re like, ‘How are people this pissed over the criticism of cruelty?’ I think it’s because they’re not only defending the person that said this, but they’re taking it personally as if I’m criticizing them, which I think says a lot more about their interpretation of criticism — and what that content was — than me as a person calling out someone using the N word, or even transphobia stuff I’ve criticized in the past.”

Wallen apologized a week after the video went viral. “The video you saw was me on hour 72 of 72 of a bender, and that’s not something I’m proud of,” he stated in a video message. “I accepted some invitations from some amazing Black organizations, some executives and leaders, to engage in some very real and honest conversations.”

Morris remains firm in her stance. “I don’t regret it, I don’t apologize,” she asserted on the podcast. “I feel the exact same way as I did that day… Don’t be racist. Don’t be transphobic. Don’t be homophobic.”

Listen to Morris’ conversation on Work in Progress below.

Source: [source names]