'The View' Hosts REACT To Jason Aldean's ‘Try That In A Small Town' Controversy

"The View" hosts are weighing in on Jason Aldean's controversial new song "Try That In A Small Town." On Thursday, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farah Griffin discussed the backlash surrounding the polarizing track and its music video. "There's a lot wrong here with this," Whoopi said. While Sarah and Joy discussed the tune's lyrics related to small towns and big cities, Alyssa said she was giving the country star the benefit of the doubt. "I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that his intent wasn't to stoke division, glorify violence or racism. I'm going to give him that benefit of the doubt…The imagery is what becomes problematic," she claimed. Sunny, however, didn’t agree. "I'm not going to give him the benefit of the doubt…My father is from Augusta and Macon and I spent many summers there. Yeah, both. It is one of the most racist places in this country. So don't tell me that he knew nothing about what that imagery meant. So, I don't give him the benefit," she explained. Jason took to Instagram to respond to the backlash earlier in the week, saying that the intention of the song was to refer to the feeling of community and people taking care of their neighbors. "In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it -- and there is not a single video clip that isn't real news footage -- and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music -- this one goes too far," he wrote.

[jeffpage]

If the "View" is against it... you know it's a gotta be a good song.

[ladybugmom]

I’m confused. What exactly is racist about the song? Did I miss a verse?

[agustinlara]

I'm all for it. Here in Chicago things were really bad and the only reason our neighborhood didn't get burned to the ground was because everyone came out to protect each other.

[rab]

Man, i grew up with whoopie in movies. Never seen the view before. But i just lost any respect i had for her.

[mvgamer]

You can't claim to be liberal and then want to cancel and censor every little thing you disagree with.

[cynthiapowers]

When we have a generation of people who think that no class whats her face Cardi that sings that songs WAP is acceptable and this isn't, we have a big problem

[cowlitzrez]

The View should denounce violent rap songs. Until they do that, they don't have real love for black people and non-black people. We know that Jason Aldean is denouncing illegal violence.

[peterbrown]

Im black male raised in a small town and i can relate to this song this is a southern thang take care of your own u feel me unity and understanding has left this world no one likes the truth but love lies 🤷🏾

[RogerGilbertson-othi]

Whoppie talking about how disconnected someone is us HILLARIOUS!

[uopala]

This song should rally all Americans to stand united against the evil in the form of street crime that has become unbearable for all people. Especially for those who don't live behind walls and under the full security like celebrities. And what is happening instead? They ban the singer who points out the problem. Country music was always the first to do it, even before rnr. You can't cancel the song or the truth.

[brooksj]

They're offended over the song. But yet they don't seem to mind that our countries get ripped apart. How about they be offended over that?

[MrWhovian]

All im gonna say is, this song is something we needed. Fuck anybody who thinks this song is remotely rascist or encouraging violence. The whole point of this song, is that small towns take care of each other and we don't allow all the crazy shit that happens in a big city to happen in a small town. No matter your race, sexuality or religion, if you come to a small town and try to riot or start trouble you aren't making it out alive, because we fight for our neighbors, we support our law enforcement and take care of each other.

How about all the drill rap who encourages killing people and pushing drugs, but this song is bad, people got me fucked up lol

[m.jackson]

As a black man, I love this song, video, and lyrics.

[heartofthunder]

These people are delusional, if it doesn’t make them happy, if doesn’t go with their idea of what something should be like, that makes them just as racist as anyone else. They need to truly take a look at their patterns and look at themselves in the mirror, sit them down in front of actors that can play them, and say the same things that they have said, in their exchange of words. Where the finger points, there’s one pointing back on you too.

[Mike-jybu]

Sonny is a lawyer??? Wow anything really is possible in America

[FourOneFive]

The song being #1 on the charts should tell you who outnumbers who but it doesn't matter when there is money and an agenda to push. The real people of this world know what's up. The Twitter people need jobs and a dose of reality followed by a booster shot of reality.

[ralemc]

How can people judge what others mean??? Their interpretation is ridiculous. These women read into their own hate and racism. Sickening.

[craftymama]

I live in Canada I took the song as small town/community life. Maybe I'm naive but geez everytime someone doesn't like something the hate comes out. Battle lines are drawn. Maybe it's time to ignore everything. Trying to keep peace in my life then turn on the radio, TV, social media and feel the hatred out there. So much for humanity learning.

[josephgonzales]

I'm Mexican American and I love this song 🇺🇲🫡

[ZiggieZoo]

I love Try That in a Small Town. Ten million views in seven days, not bad. The song must not be all that "disconnected." I am buying it in high resolution digital audio format this evening. The word "racist" is so overused that it has no meaning. People are sick of crime. This song resonates with a very large swath of the American population.