Fans of Taylor Swift received an apology from Zach Bryan after he wrote, “drunkenly,” on his since-deleted X account that he thought Kanye West was a greater musician than the pop sensation.
For the record, folks, I wasn’t going to target Taylor the other evening. The country music star posted a screenshot of Swift’s song “Fortnight,” which features Post Malone from her “Tortured Poets Department” album, along with the caption, “I was drunkenly comparing two records and it came out wrong,” early on Thursday morning on Instagram Story.
Zach Bryan apologized for “drunkenly” tweeting that Kanye West is better than Taylor Swift.
He went on, alluding to West’s previous antisemitic remarks, saying, “I know there’s a lot of stuff that clouds around Ye and I was speaking purely musically.”
“I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night,” Bryan wrote on his Instagram Story early Thursday.Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
The country singer explained that he was “comparing two records and it came out wrong.”Getty Images
“I love Taylor’s music,” he wrote alongside a screenshot of the pop superstar’s song “Fortnight.”zachlanebryan/Instagram
Bryan, 28, assured his followers, “I love Taylor’s music and pray you guys know I’m human and tweet stupid things often. Hope one day I can explain this to her.”
The “Something in the Orange” crooner, who has a history of deactivating his social media accounts, admitted that his X posts get him “in trouble too much,” so he has decided to “stay off” the app.
“I’m sorry to any Taylor fans I pissed off or let down,” he added. “Love you guys and I’m trying my best!”
Bryan received backlash for writing on X late Tuesday, “Kanye > Taylor.”Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP
He has since deactivated his account.Getty Images
“Don’t drink and tweet,” he urged his followers.zachlanebryan/Instagram
In a second message, Bryan explained that he has been “going through a hard time” and was “projecting a little,” but he now realizes his post “came off as rude” to Swift, whom he respects “so much as a musician.”
“the last thing I want is people thinking I don’t appreciate and love what she has done for music,” he wrote before urging fans not to “drink and tweet.”
The “I Remember Everything” singer went on to praise Swift, 34, as a “force of nature” and reiterate that he does not “have a hint of malice or meanness” toward the “Cruel Summer” songstress.
The “Something in the Orange” crooner praised Swift as a “force of nature.”Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
“I know there’s a lot of stuff that clouds around Ye and I was speaking purely musically,” he added.Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
“I never want anyone to think I have a hint of malice or meanness towards anyone,” Bryan wrote.zachlanebryan/Instagram
Bryan’s mea culpa came after he shared a post on X late Tuesday that read, “eagles > chiefs Kanye > Taylor who’s with me,” which some Swifties also viewed as a dig at Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The “Pink Skies” crooner immediately received backlash from Swift’s legion of fans, prompting him to shut down his account.
“He knew not to mess with the Swifties,” one user subsequently quipped.