Morgan Wallen recently announced the postponement of the opening of his Nashville bar, This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen, at the last minute right before it was set to open on Memorial Day weekend. The TC Restaurant Group, which owns a number of celebrity bars, explained that the delay was due to the extensive work required for the construction of a six-story venue and the need to ensure a high-quality experience for guests upon opening. While no new opening date has been set, the venue assured that it would be coming soon.
The delay in the opening of Wallen’s bar was not related to the Nashville Metro Council’s recent rejection of his proposal for a 20-foot sign advertising the bar on the downtown strip. The council cited Wallen’s past controversies, including his arrest last month and his use of a racial slur in a video that went viral in 2021, as reasons for the rejection. Some fans expressed disappointment at the last-minute delay, with some individuals mentioning that they had traveled long distances and spent a substantial amount of money to attend the opening.
The Nashville Metro Council members who voted against Wallen’s proposal criticized his past actions as harmful and hateful, emphasizing the need for Nashville to be a supportive place for everyone. Despite supporters suggesting that Wallen should host events outside of Nashville in response to the rejection, it was noted that his bar would still be opening soon, and a sign with his name would eventually go up. Wallen had faced backlash in 2021 following the release of a video in which he used a racial slur, leading to consequences such as the suspension of his recording contract and exclusion from music platforms and award ceremonies.
Following the backlash, Wallen saw a surge in album sales and remained on top of the Billboard charts for several more weeks. In an effort to make amends, he made a $300,000 donation to the Black Music Action Coalition in the names of those who had counseled him after the incident. Wallen publicly acknowledged his mistake on Good Morning America, expressing regret for his actions and acknowledging that he was wrong to use the racial slur. Despite the controversy, some fans continue to support Wallen and expressed disappointment over the delayed opening of his bar, emphasizing their excitement to experience the venue.
