Country music star Zach Bryan has revealed how he really feels about Taylor Swift, after comparing the pop diva to Kanye West in a since-deleted tweet.
Bryan, 28, a Country Music Association Award nominee, shared his opinions on sports and music earlier this week, tweeting “eagles > chiefs” and “Kanye > Taylor,” according to a screenshot shared on X (formerly Twitter). The singer-songwriter’s post went viral and sparked the ire of Swift fans and other social media fans. He quickly — no pun intended — deactivated his X account and apologized in a series of Instagram Stories early Thursday morning. He clarified that he was tweeting under the influence of alcohol and that he “wasn’t going to go for Taylor the other night.”
“I was drunk comparing two records and it came out wrong,” he said on Instagram, posting a screenshot of Swift and Post Malone’s “Fortnight.” “I know there’s a lot of things clouding Ye’s mind and I was just talking purely about music. I love Taylor’s music and I pray they know I’m human and tweet stupid stuff often. I hope one day I can explain this to her.”
In several Instagram stories, the “Condemned” singer said he’d been going through some tough times in his personal life and explained that he was “projecting a little bit” in his tweet, which poked fun at both Swift and her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs. The post also seemed to evoke Swift and West’s years-long feud.
Bryan, who said “Twitter gets me in a lot of trouble,” added in another Instagram Story that he felt his post sounded “rude and insensitive towards Taylor” and praised the “force of nature” singer and her contributions to the music industry.
He added: “I never want people to think that I have an ounce of malice or meanness towards anyone, never, that's why I say all this.”
Bryan concluded his apology on Instagram by saying he intends to focus on himself, including finishing his Quittin Time tour, which continues this weekend in Louisville.
Bryan's representatives did not immediately respond Thursday to The Times' request for additional comment.
Earlier this month, Bryan earned a 2024 CMA Awards nomination for his collaboration with Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything.”
