By now, everyone on the planet knows about country music star Morgan Wallen’s transgressions.

In short, the star appeared to have a little too much to drink one night and was caught on camera using a racial slur.

That was more than three years ago now, and Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish fame says that Morgan Wallen is still on the outs.

Hootie: Morgan Wallen is Unforgiven

Back in 2021 when Wallen’s incident occurred, he was more or less blacklisted.

He was uninvited from awards shows. The radio stopped playing his music. He was persona non grata, to put it mildly.

According to Darius Rucker, he still is.

Rucker, famously, is black. So does he forgive Morgan Wallen for using the worst of all racial slurs?

Speaking on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, Rucker said, “I think Morgan’s become a better person since that. I’ve known Morgan a long time. Since all that happened, you know, Morgan’s tried to really better himself, become a better person and see the world in a much better way. And you know, he’s not forgiven… Morgan’s still not up for CMAs and ACMs.”

This, in spite of Wallen’s immense popularity with country fans.

Rucker added:

“They can say what they want but the fact that Morgan Wallen is not up for Entertainer of the Year and those things is crazy, because no one’s sold more tickets than Morgan. Maybe Luke Combs is right up there with him. But they’re playing stadiums, man.” 

As of August 2023, Morgan Wallen was ranked 7th all-time in country music concert revenue, ahead of even Garth Brooks. (Combs, incredibly, is above Alan Jackson at the #2 spot.)

Also for 2023, Morgan Wallen was chosen as Taste of Country’s top artist, beating out the likes of Combs, Jason Aldean, and others.

RELATED: Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll Lead Nominees For 2024 Academy Of Country Music Awards

What Can Morgan Wallen Do?

Wallen is in a tough spot. His social crime is one of the worst there is in our times. Is there any way he can mend what he broke and get back in the good graces of fans and the black community?

Darius Rucker isn’t so sure, saying: “But that’s society. What I think doesn’t matter. People are gonna make their own opinion and go with it. And so, it is what it is.”

And that’s true of the people who give the accolades, too. Plus, the CMAs and ACMs have the added political pressure of being correct.

It’s great that Wallen can still sell out stadiums and is at the top of his game music-wise. Whether or not he will ultimately be forgiven and allowed to move on, only time will tell.

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