Country performer Morgan Wallen has been disqualified from performing or receiving any recognition at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards, the organization announced Wednesday, as the star is still dealing with backlash for a viral video revealing he is a racist slur at friends.
The first round of voting for the awards ceremony, which will be broadcast on April 18, has already closed. The name of Wallen will be removed from the second voting round of the competition, which according to ACM starts on February 10.
The Academy of Country Music will discontinue Morgan Wallen’s potential involvement and suitability for this year’s 56th Academy of Country Music Awards Cycle, ” a statement from the Academy reads.
“The Academy does not condone or endorse intolerance or behavior that is inconsistent with our commitment and commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
ACM, which is hosting the smaller of the two major country music awards behind the Country Music Association Awards in November, also announced that it would remove all of Wallen’s digital content from its website.
The 27-year-old won the CMA award for “Best New Artist” last year.
Wallen was also “indefinitely” banned by his record label earlier Wednesday after TMZ first reported on a video in which the Tennessee native said the N-word after a night of drinking in Nashville.
His radio broadcast took a big hit this week after the scandal – fell nearly 80 percent after iHeartRadio and Cumulus Media, the country’s two largest radio chains, ordered their stations to stop playing Wallen’s music, according to a report in Variety. .
Wallen apologized for the incident on Wednesday, calling his actions “unacceptable and inappropriate”.
‘I’m ashamed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back, ”he said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight. “There are never excuses for using this kind of language. I would like to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better. “
It remains unclear whether Wallen will be banned from future awards ceremonies, including this year’s CMA Awards.