The View Hosts Slam Jason Aldean's Controversial Song, Sparking Major Debate

The hosts of The View are openly sharing their opinions on Jason Aldean's controversial new song, "Try That in a Small Town." Whoopi Goldberg initiated the conversation on the July 20th episode, criticizing Aldean, 46, for the music video's visuals and the song's endorsement of guns, as well as its underlying racist implications.

"He discusses the distinctness of life in a small town and how Jason has intentionally selected these visuals," stated Goldberg, 67. "He incorporates individuals from the Black Lives Matter movement to emphasize the importance of mutual support and it strikes me as intriguing that Jason and the writers never perceived this as an act of looking out for one another: they were simply taking care of their town's inhabitants because they disapproved of what they witnessed."

She added, "Similarly, we witness people assisting each other in significant cities as well. It's crucial to recognize that when the focus shifts to Black Lives Matter, some individuals may question if you are specifically referring to Black individuals. What exactly are you addressing here?"

After Goldberg's heartfelt statement, cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin expressed her inclination to give Aldean the benefit of the doubt, believing that he did not intend to "incite division." However, Griffin, who is 34 years old, acknowledged that the song undeniably reminded her of the tragic murder of Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020 – a senseless act against a Black man in a small Southern town.

Both Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar proceeded to share their concerns regarding the song and its alleged connotations. Behar, who is 80 years old, deemed the song "appalling," while Hostin, aged 54, couldn't help but be reminded of the hardships her parents had faced while growing up in the South.

Sara Haines, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farah Griffin. ABC/Jeff Lipsky

“What came to mind for me were those areas at sunset. Because my mother and father, being an interracial couple, were forced to leave South Carolina due to the KKK,” she shared, while her parents sat among the audience. “My father still carries the emotional scars from that experience ... so don't try to convince me that he wasn't fully aware of the implications when he used that imagery. In fact, he embraces it. Unfortunately, this song has become the top hit on U.S. iTunes. The issue we have in this country is a deep-seated problem with race, and the biggest obstacle is our refusal to acknowledge its existence.”

After expressing their perspectives on the song, the talk show hosts addressed Aldean's response to the backlash received.

"In the last 24 hours, I have faced accusations of promoting a song that supports lynching (a song that has been released since May) and have been compared to someone who is not supportive of the nationwide BLM protests, as quoted directly. These claims hold no truth and are potentially dangerous," tweeted the musician on Tuesday, July 18. "The song does not contain any lyrics or video clips that are racially suggestive, and every video clip used is authentic news footage. While I understand that people may have their own interpretations of a song with music, this particular accusation crosses a line."

After Hostin read the statement aloud on live television, Goldberg strongly criticized Aldean's response. "It goes too far?" she questioned. "You have gone too far."