Zach Bryan is not one to shy away from criticism. Recently, he took to Instagram to address what he perceived as a subtle jab from fellow singer-songwriter John Moreland. Moreland had shared a somewhat cryptic message on his Instagram Story, saying, “In my off-brand version, $350m is a lot to pay for f —,” followed by a casual “Yeah, have a great day.”
This latest controversy comes on top of Bryan’s ongoing challenges, including recent arrests and public comments about drunkenness related to Taylor Swift. Earlier this week, Bryan renewed his contract with Warner Records, reportedly involving a deal worth $350 million, which includes plans for at least two albums. There are also rumors that he may be selling his publishing catalog, which seems to be a significant part of the buzz surrounding him.
Interestingly, Bryan had collaborated with Moreland on a track called “Memphis, Blues,” featured on his upcoming album “The Great American Bar Scene.” After seeing Moreland’s post, Bryan shared a screenshot along with his own thoughts, expressing disappointment. He mentioned that he’d always looked up to artists like Moreland and found it difficult to accept that someone he admired would make such comments about him.
In response to the issue, he contemplated replacing “Memphis” with “Blues” on the track. He insisted that there were no hard feelings, although he was clearly shaken by the dig. “There’s no difficult feeling!” he asserted.
In another post, he said that this would be his final word on the matter, noting that it wasn’t about arguing with someone who had hurt him. He added that “Memphis, Blues” isn’t currently available on streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, but he assured fans this would change soon. “I’m going to re-release it!!!” he declared, exuding positivity.
As of now, Moreland has yet to comment publicly on the situation. This isn’t the first time Bryan has faced backlash for comments about fellow artists. Last year, he deactivated his X account after making controversial remarks regarding Taylor Swift, which he later regretted, admitting that he had been intoxicated and shouldn’t have made comparisons between the artists.
He later expressed a desire to explain his actions to Swift, apologizing to her fans for any offense caused. Bryan, 28, recognized that his social media presence could lead to trouble and reiterated his love for fans, promising to do better in the future.
