Country singer Zach Bryan is speaking out after a teaser for his upcoming song, “Bad News,” sparked controversy online for lyrics that appeared to criticize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In a lengthy message posted to his Instagram story on Tuesday, the U.S. Navy veteran said the divisive reaction to the song snippet left him feeling “embarrassed but kind of scared.”

The controversy began after Bryan shared a clip of the song, which includes the lyrics:

“And ICE is gonna come bust down your door / Try to build a house, no bills no more, well I got a telephone / Kids are all scared and all alone.”

The teaser drew criticism from some conservative fans, who labeled the song “woke” and “un-American.”

In his response, Bryan explained that the full song has a broader message.

See Full Page