Not backing down. Maren Morris didn’t hold back when she slammed Brittany Aldean (née Kerr) — the wife of country singer Jason Aldean — for her comments about transgender children.
“I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life🤎✌🏼,” the beauty blogger wrote via Instagram in August 2022, alongside a makeup tutorial that she shared with fans at the time.
The “Dirt Road Anthem” singer — who married Brittany in 2015 — responded, “Lmao!! I’m glad they didn’t too, cause you and I wouldn’t have worked out 😂.”
Not every person was as entertained by Brittany’s remarks, in any case, with numerous pundits pummeling the remarks as transphobic. “You’d think celebs with excellence brands would see the up-sides in incorporating LGBTQ+ individuals in their informing,” Cassadee Pope composed through Twitter a couple of days after the fact, referring to both Brittany’s post and her hair expansions line. “However, all things being equal, we are right here, hearing somebody contrast their ‘spitfire stage’ with somebody needing to progress. Genuine decent.”
In light of the “Squandering Every one of the Tears” vocalist’s post, Morris composed that it was “so natural to, as, not be a slime ball human,” prior to adding that Brittany ought to simply “sell your clasp ins and zip it, Revolt Barbie,” alluding to the January 2021 uproar at the State house following the official political decision.
The YouTube personality later addressed her controversial remarks via her Instagram Story, arguing that parents should not allow their transgender children to transition until they are legally adults. “I will always support my children and do what I can to protect their innocence. The other day, [my son] Memphis wanted to be a dinosaur and tomorrow [my daughter] Navy will want to be a cat, they’re children,” she wrote at the time, later adding, “Love is protecting your child until they are mature enough as an adult to make their own life decisions.”
Morris, for her part, explained the next day that she was infuriated by Brittany’s post and felt a need to say something to remind LGBTQ+ youth that they have support. “Y’all have been so sweet and supportive today of me and Cassadee,” the “Circles Around This Town” singer said in a video shared on her own Instagram Story. “I will say we can handle this s–t. We’ve dealt with idiots, you know, for years saying insanely stupid stuff [to] us. … I’m just so sick of looking at absolute horses–t on the internet and people getting away with it, much less being celebrated for it.”
She continued: “But I would say check on your trans friends. Check on your gay friends. Anyone that is in country music and had to look at that bulls–t today and feel subhuman. Check on your friends.”
The Grammy winner also shared links to LGBTQ+ support resources from The Trevor Project on her Instagram Story, as well as an article from Scientific American magazine that contains “actual medical information and stats on gender affirming care in case you were interested :).”
Brittany’s Original Post
The mother of two shared a makeup tutorial with her Instagram followers on August 23, writing that she wanted to “thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase,” which many saw as a dig at parents of transgender children.
Maren Fires Back
“It’s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie,” the “Middle” singer wrote in response to Brittany’s post on August 26.
She added, “You know, I’m glad she didn’t become a boy either because we really don’t need another assh–e dude in the world. Sucks when Karens try to hide their homophobia/transphobia behind their ‘protectiveness of the children.’ Weren’t they putting their kids in ‘[President Joe] Biden-is-a-pedo’ shirts on social media? Sounds like a real safe way to protect them from millions of eyes! … F—k all the way off to Insurrection Barbie and the fellow IB’s trolling this comment section with their hypocritical, hateful asses.”
Brittany Doubles Down
In addition to calling the Grammy winner “Karen Morris,” Brittany addressed her comments via her Instagram Story later that day. “Some parents want to be accepted by society so badly that they’re willing to make life-altering decisions for their children who aren’t old enough to fully comprehend the consequences of those actions,” she alleged at the time. “Love is protecting your child until they are mature enough as an adult to make their own life decisions.”
Maren Takes On Candace Owens
The conservative political commentator responded to Morris on Twitter in an attempt to defend Brittany’s position on the issue. “It’s easier to not castrate your children. But I guess whatever helps sell bad records,” Owens wrote
The Texas native fired back, “Oh my god, not you. My Grammy is positively sobbing right now. Also, why do y’all always go to ‘castration’ and ‘pedophiles’ to try and shut an argument down? It’s honestly concerning and worth looking into.”
Ryan Hurd and Jason Aldean Stick Up For Their Wives
“Scoring quick points by picking on trans kids isn’t something that is brave at all,” Hurd — who married Morris in March 2018 — wrote via Twitter on August 27. “And I’m proud of Maren for sticking up for them. Badge of honor to have [Candace Owens] engage in completely normal discourse, too. Shut up and sing only applies to those who you disagree with.”
He continued: “Getting a lot of people telling me our career is over, as if the last time she spoke up about something it disappeared. Honestly, we’re pretty OK over here. Tours are good, got a 2-year-old we love, we’re f—king fine and I promise she isn’t going to shut up now.”
Jason, for his part, reacted to Morris calling Brittany “Insurrection Barbie” by writing that she was “MY Barbie,” in an Instagram comment.
Other Stars Begin to Take Sides
“Bravo @MarenMorris 🌈,” Brandi Carlile, who is openly gay, wrote via Twitter on August 26 in support of her friend. “It’s when you selflessly bear another’s burden that you actually reflect gods love. Way to not tolerate disgusting behavior.” Jason Isbell, meanwhile, praised Morris for “doing the lord’s work tonight on Twitter dot com.”
Jonathan Van Ness also thanked the “Bones” songstress for standing up for LGBTQ+ youth. “Love to see ally’s ❤️ & to be clear inter𝓈ℯ𝓍 kids which make up at least 2% of all kids face genital mutilation to enforce cisgender norms everyday,” the Queer Eye star, who is nonbinary, wrote via Twitter.
Country singer RaeLynn and Eric Trump‘s wife, Lara Trump, meanwhile, both left heart-eye smiley face emojis in the comments on Brittany’s post.
Brittany Says She ‘Won’t Be Silent’
The social media influencer continued to defend herself on August 28, sharing a post by Tennessee congressional candidate Robby Starbuck on her Instagram Story. “If you are silent about your beliefs because you’re worried someone will be offended, then your beliefs are not that important to you but rather what people think about you is,” the post read. “When you stand up for what’s right and what’s true, you will receive both hate and love, but everyone will know what you’re fighting for.”
Brittany Claims Her Words Were ‘Twisted’
“Per usual, my words have been taken out of context over the last week 🙄,” she wrote via Instagram on August 31. “Instead of getting twisted about the twisting of my words, I’ve chosen to bring some good out of it. Introducing our NEW Barbie-inspired line LIVE NOW.”
Brittany and business partner Kasi Rosa launched their new collection of “Don’t Tread on Our Kids” sweatshirts that were written in the Barbie style, a nod to Morris’ “Insurrection Barbie” diss.
Maren Posts About ‘Toxic Positivity’
On August 30, the “My Church” singer shared an infographic about “toxic positivity” — the idea that no matter how terrible the situation, one should always be positive — via her Instagram Story. Two examples listed were “being negative won’t help you” and “good vibes only.”
Brittany Defends Her Stance
The boutique owner appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight on September 1, 2022, in which she noted that she was “extremely surprised” by the backlash to her opinion.
“I think I’m advocating for children. I think that children should not be allowed to make these life-changing decisions at such a young age. They are not mature enough,” she told Tucker Carlson, calling it “baffling” to allow a minor child to “choose their gender so young” in comparison to age requirements for joining the military, purchasing cigarettes and driving a car.
“[There are] huge consequences [to gender-affirming surgery],” Brittany alleged. “And I think when you’re older, if you choose to make those decisions, by all means. But children are too young, not mature enough to make those decisions. And they’re life-changing, like you said. They may not be able to have children one day. There’s so many consequences to doing that at such a young age. … And us as parents, us as a society, regardless of political status, should be able to sit back, speak our minds about it, and fight for these children.”
Jason’s PR Team Resigns
After nearly two decades representing the “Big Green Tractor” artist, GreenRoom publicity firm parted ways with Jason.
“Music has always been and remains The GreenRoom’s core focus, so we had to make the difficult decision after 17 years to step away from representing Jason,” Tyne Parrish, the co-owner of GreenRoom, said in a September 2022 statement to Billboard. “We aren’t the best people for the gig anymore, but will always be big fans of his music — he is one of the greatest live entertainers in country music.”
A Very Popular Shirt
After Carlson called Morris a “lunatic country music person” during Brittany’s appearance on his show, the “Tall Guys” songstress released a T-shirt that included the epithet and the phone number for the Trans Lifeline crisis hotline. Morris noted that all proceeds would be split between the Trans Lifeline and GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program.
Less than one week later, GLAAD and Trans Lifeline announced that the shirt had raised more than $150,000 for their organizations. “The way that transgender people are talked about on social media, especially by celebrities, has an impact on the wellbeing of trans folks, who already live in a society that does not want them to exist,” Lauren Gray, Trans Lifeline’s director of advancement, said in a statement. “Social marginalization and stigma cause us to have a significantly harder time accessing community support, safe housing, gainful employment, and affordable healthcare, which push many people in our community toward crisis. We are grateful to Maren Morris for not only calling out transphobia but also using her platform to support Trans Lifeline as we answer calls every day from trans people in crisis.”
Keeping Her Distance
Morris told the Los Angeles Times in September 2022 that she was planning to skip the Country Music Awards amid the pair’s ongoing feud — despite being nominated for album of the year.
“I’m very honored that my record is nominated. But I don’t know if I feel [at] home there right now,” the singer explained. “So many people I love will be in that room, and maybe I’ll make a game-time decision and go. As of right now, though, I don’t feel comfortable going.”
She added, “Some nights are fun. Others I’m just crawling out of my skin. I’m not good at those events because I’m awkward. But this time I kind of feel peaceful at the notion of not going.”
Calling Out ‘Cowardly’ Trolls
Morris opened up about the pros and cons of using social media during a September 2022 interview on the “I’m Listening” podcast. “I feel terrible, honestly, for kids that are growing up with social media,” she said. “People can cowardly hide behind their phone screens. I totally feel for the kids that are dealing with that because I’m where I’m at and I still deal with that. … [But] I can sleep at night knowing that I’m always trying to be a better person. I stand up for injustices when I see them, and then sometimes I know that it’s totally OK to not insert yourself into the fight. Sometimes you can silently support something as well. And that’s something you have to do for your own mental health.”
Why Maren Spoke Out
The “Tall Guys” singer explained why she gets “heated” about LGBTQ+ issues while discussing her involvement with GLAAD in a September 29 interview. “My mom was really close to her uncle growing up, who sadly died in the early ’90s of AIDS. It was just always a conversation in our household that we’re all the same and there is no ‘us’ and ‘you.’ … I definitely feel like it hits closer to home for me now, having a son — and I have gay family members.”
Morris asserted that the Nashville community is “more supportive” toward the queer community than people might think, calling out the “loud subset of people” who maybe aren’t as welcoming. “The internet is such a vacuum. … When I zoom out and look at my community of friends and peers within Nashville, country music and other genres, the people I work with coming out in support of this cause and me … I definitely felt the love more than the hate. So that was encouraging,” she said.
Jason Aldean Concertgoers Boo Maren
Jason mentioned Morris at a Nashville concert in October 2022, eliciting jeers from the crowd. “I thought, man, who could I call? I got some friends in town,” he told the audience, per videos shared via social media. “I could call Luke Bryan. I could call Kane Brown. See if Kenny Chesney’s here and not at the beach.”
The crowd roared cheerfully after each name mentioned, but the reaction was different when he said, “Maren Morris.” They booed as Aldean put on a faux confused face. He then brought out Morgan Wallen, who Morris vocally slammed who after he was caught drunkenly using a racial slur in February 2021.
Maren’s ‘Lunatic Country Music Person’ Halloween Costume
Morris shared her version of the Spirit Halloween costume meme in October 2022 by posting a mockup of a “Lunatic Country Music Person” ensemble — which comes complete with “[a] tambourine, inclusive fans, pickleball paddle [and] beef with transphobes.”
