Country music star Zach Bryan stirred up social media when he tweeted his preference for Kanye West over Taylor Swift.
Now, he’s facing backlash from Swift fans and has deactivated his X account (formerly Twitter), issuing an apology via Instagram.
The Tweet That Sparked It All
On Sept. 17, Bryan tweeted, “eagles > chiefs” followed by “Kanye > Taylor” and wrapped it up with “who’s with me?”
The tweet, a reference to football teams and a comparison of Kanye West and Taylor Swift, immediately sparked a wave of backlash from Swifties.
A screenshot of the now-deleted tweet was shared by Variety, and it didn’t take long for the country star to face the heat.
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Apologizing for His Drunken Tweet
Bryan, 28, quickly took to Instagram Stories on Sept. 18 to apologize for his tweet, explaining that he wasn’t trying to criticize Swift. Bryan wrote:
“For the record, guys, I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night. I was drunkenly comparing two records, and it came out wrong.”
He emphasized that he was speaking purely from a musical standpoint, acknowledging the controversies surrounding West but clarifying his intent.
“I love Taylor’s music and hope you guys know I’m human and tweet stupid things often,” he added. He even joked about hoping to one day explain the situation to Taylor in person.
Taking a Break from X
Bryan deactivated his X account, admitting it was “best” for him to step away from the platform, especially while going through a tough time in his personal life.
He reflected on the situation, saying he was “projecting a little” and that his tweet came off as “rude and desensitized” toward Taylor.
“I respect her so much as a musician,” he said, adding that the last thing he wanted was for people to think he didn’t appreciate her contributions to music. He ended his message with a relatable reminder for us all: “Don’t drink and tweet!!”
The Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce Connection
Bryan’s “eagles > chiefs” comment also seemed to touch on Taylor Swift’s current relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. Swift has been spotted at multiple Chiefs games, including a recent win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 15.
The comparison of the Eagles and Chiefs was likely a playful jab, as Kelce’s brother, Jason Kelce, previously played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
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A Long History Between Swift and Kanye
The mention of Kanye West inevitably brought back memories of his infamous 2009 interruption of Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. Since then, the two stars have had a rocky relationship, with occasional references in their music or the media.
Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, even seems to hint at a long-standing feud with West’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, in the song “Thank You Aimee.” Bryan acknowledged in his now-deleted tweet that he had been listening to Swift’s album before tweeting.
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Chart-Topping Competition
Despite the drama, both Zach Bryan and Taylor Swift are enjoying huge success with their latest albums. Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department currently sits at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, while Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene is at No. 7.
Both artists continue to dominate the charts with their previous releases, though Kanye’s recent album Vultures 2 hasn’t made it into the top 200.
For now, it looks like Bryan will be taking a break from social media to reflect on his actions and hopefully avoid more late-night, alcohol-fueled tweets.