Zach Bryan, a prominent country music artist, has deactivated his X account and issued an apology on Instagram following backlash from Taylor Swift fans over a tweet. On September 17, Bryan posted a now-deleted tweet stating “eagles > chiefs” and “Kanye > Taylor,” ultimately asking, “who’s with me?”
After facing criticism, Bryan deactivated his X account and took to Instagram Stories on September 18 to clarify his comments. He explained, “For the record guys I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night. I was drunkenly comparing two records and it came out wrong.” He acknowledged the controversies surrounding Kanye West but emphasized that his comments were meant purely in a musical context.
Bryan expressed his admiration for Swift’s music and sought to convey his humanity, admitting he often tweets impulsively. He mentioned that he intends to stay off X for a while due to personal difficulties and that his tweet may have come across as disrespectful to Swift. “I respect her so much as a musician, and the last thing I want is people thinking I don’t appreciate what she has done for music,” he stated.
His original tweet appeared to mock the Kansas City Chiefs, a team with which Swift has become associated since her relationship with superstar tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been notably present at Chiefs games, including a recent match against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 15.
Bryan also referenced a Swift song, “thanK you aIMee,” from her 2023 album, suggesting that his comments were made in a lighthearted manner after listening to her music. He concluded his apology with a reminder: “Don’t drink and tweet!!”
In the charts, both artists are currently competing with their latest albums, with Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” ranking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, while Bryan’s “The Great American Bar Scene” follows closely at No. 7.