All the Latest Developments in Zach Bryan's ‘Bad News’ Furore as Tricia McLaughlin, Gavin Adcock, Nate Smith and More Respond

After sparking backlash courtesy of his new song snippet, ‘Bad News’, which seemingly criticises the Trump administration's ICE raids, Zach Bryan has made a statement lamenting how this outcry just shows “how devastatingly divided we all are”.

Via Instagram, Bryan has explained, “I wrote this song months ago. I posted this song three months ago as a snippet. This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media. This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back”.

The ‘Something in the Orange’ hitmaker goes on, “I served this country, I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn’t speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou asshole, just a 29 year old man who is just as confused as everyone else. To see how much shit it stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing we’re all one bird and American. To be clear I’m on neither of these radical sides. To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe in just know I’m trying my best too and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes. Everyone have a great day and I love each and every one of ya!!!”

Bryan's response came after a handful of country artists - such as Jake Owen and John Rich - spoke out against his new song, which finds the Oklahoma native reflecting on the state of America, “Didn't wake up dead or in jail / Some out-of-town boys been giving us hell / I got some bad news / I woke up missing you / My friends are all degenerates, but they're all I've got / The generational story of dropping the plot / I heard the cops came / Cocky motherfuckers, ain't they?”

He then delivers the line that has upset some conservative-leaning commentators in the US, “And ICE is gonna come bust down your door / Try to build a house no one builds no more / But I got a telephone / Kids are all scared and all alone / The bars stopped bumping, the rock stopped rolling / The middlе fingers rising, and it won't stop showing / Got some bad news / Thе fading of the red, white and blue”.

The Department of Homeland Security's Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, made her thoughts on Bryan's new song clear, with McLaughlin resharing an article on ‘Bad News’ via X with the comment, “Stick to Pink Skies, dude”.

Stick to Pink Skies, dude. https://t.co/o4FptciBFO

— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) October 7, 2025

Elsewhere on X, Gavin Adcock - one of Bryan's biggest nemeses in 2025 and the man he threatened to fight at Born & Raised Festival - referenced their almost-altercation, “Don't gotta kick someone's ass that makes woke ass decisions like that”.

Adcock then doubled-down in a later post, sharing the similar message, “Don't [got] to kick somebody's ass who constantly kicks their own” with the laughing-crying emoji.

Don’t gotta kick someone’s ass that makes woke ass decisions like that

— Gavin Adcock Music (@GavinAdcock) October 7, 2025

Nate Smith, who has been vocal about his MAGA support on social media of late, has weighed in on the ‘Bad News’ saga, sharing a video of a warning seemingly directed at Bryan, “I'm gonna say this one time and one time only. If you're in country music, if you're a country artist, and you are anti-American, you hate America, you don't share the values of Americans - we don't want you here. We don't want you in our genre. We want you out. Don't let the door hit you in the ass”.

It comes after the ‘Whiskey On You’ crooner uploaded an Instagram Story advising Bryan, “I really hope Zach Bryan chooses a different path. I don't think he understands what he's about to unleash. Country music fans support mass deportations big time”.

It remains to be seen whether Smith's assessment of the genre is accurate or not, but many fans have expressed deep frustration with the ‘World On Fire’ singer-songwriter's decision to assume where they stand and speak on behalf of ‘country music’.

BRELAND, one of Smith's fellow country artists, has replied to his video asking for clarity on what he is implying, “Real question, bro, because obviously there is some subtext here. But are you saying that not supporting ICE is anti-American?”

It certainly feels like Smith's statement, ”Country music fans support mass deportations big time” is a considerable generalisation. The issue many take with the ICE raids is the aggression and force with which they have been carried out, with citizens taking to the streets in cities such as Los Angeles to protest these measures.

Bryan has indicated that the tension and anger that has ensured as the result of this snippet stems from a misunderstanding of the country star's intentions when writing the song.

Perhaps we will get a clearer picture of what ‘Bad News’ is really about when - and if - Bryan lets us hear the full version, but for now, the conservative-fuelled furore rages on.

For more on Zach Bryan, see below: