Nashville council rejects proposed sign for Morgan Wallen's new bar, decrying his behavior
Nashville councilmembers have rejected a plan to erect a glowing sign at Morgan Wallen’s new bar along a neon-lit strip of honky tonks in the city's downtown
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville councilmembers have rejected plans for a glowing sign to be erected at Morgan Wallen's new bar along the city's neon-lit strip of honky tonks, citing his use of a racial slur that caused controversy in 2021 and recent criminal charges accusing the country star of throwing a chair off a rooftop near two police officers.
The Nashville Metro Council voted 30-3 Tuesday evening against the proposed sign at Morgan Wallen's This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen, which is set to open this weekend. The sign would have hung over a public sidewalk, similar to those at many neighboring bars. Such a sign requires local government approval and usually isn't a controversial process.
During debate, councilmembers called Wallen's comments hateful and his actions harmful. They also said the performer has received multiple second chances.
“I don’t want to see a billboard up with the name of a person who is throwing chairs off of balconies and who is saying racial slurs,” said Councilmember Delishia Porterfield, who is Black.
Councilmember Jacob Kupin presented the proposal, but said he “thought long and hard” about what to do because of Wallen's behavior. He said the third-party organization managing the business, TC Restaurant Group, has been “really, a good partner” and has worked to make downtown Nashville safer.
The Associated Press reached out to Wallen's publicist and TC Restaurant Group seeking comment on the council vote.
“The fact that someone’s name is going up on a bar doesn’t mean that we condone all the behavior, but again I appreciate the efforts to
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