Last week, Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae’s collaboration on Wallen’s upcoming album was confirmed, sparking controversy.

Who is Tate McRae?

McRae is a singer, songwriter, and dancer who has gained significant online popularity over the past few years. She is known for her viral songs and impressive choreography, which are frequently showcased in her live performances and tours.

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Her breakout hit was “You Broke Me First” in 2020. Since then, she has released three studio albums: I Used to Think I Could Fly (2022), Think Later (2023), and, most recently, So Close to What in February 2025. McRae notably uses TikTok to promote and tease her songs, which have helped many of them go viral, including Greedy” (2023) and “Sports Car” (2025). Her active presence on social media contributes to her success and commercial performance with her music and her relevance and virality to Gen Z.

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Who is Morgan Wallen?

Wallen is an American country-pop singer who is considered by many to be highly controversial. He first gained recognition on the sixth season of The Voice and later signed with a record label. Wallen has released three studio albums, four extended plays, and 26 singles.

His most successful songs include “Last Night” and “Whiskey Glasses.” His second album, Dangerous: The Double Album (2021), achieved commercial success, and his third album followed a similar pattern. However, despite his musical achievements, Wallen has been involved in several controversies, which have led many to view him negatively.

Image Credit: Spc. Robert Vicens from Wikimedia Commons

Wallen has been involved in several incidents over the years. This includes:

2020: In May 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Wallen was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct after being asked to leave a steakhouse. The arrest warrant stated that Wallen was kicking glass items and later got into verbal altercations in the street.

2020: In October 2020, Wallen was scheduled to perform as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. However, videos and photos appeared online of him partying and violating COVID-19 safety protocols, and he was removed from the show’s program that night.

2021: In February 2021, a video of Wallen using a racial slur in public came out. Many industry officials and artists criticized Wallen, and many radio stations dropped him. He was also banned from award shows that year.

2024: In April 2024, Wallen allegedly threw a chair from a rooftop bar in Nashville. He was arrested and pleaded guilty to the incident.

2025: In March 2025, Wallen randomly left the SNL stage during the closing section. He later posted a plane photo with the caption, “Get me to God’s country.”

These incidents make it clear that Morgan Wallen is a complex and often controversial figure. While he has a loyal fan base, many people have been offended by his actions and struggle to support him.

The Collab Details:

The collaboration was first hinted at on Tuesday, April 15, when McRae shared an Instagram Story featuring a jersey with hers and Wallen’s initials. After some more speculation, it was confirmed that, alongside Post Malone and other artists, McRae would be featured on the 37-track album I’m the Problem, which is set for release on May 16, 2025. While Wallen's fans seemed happy with the duo, others flooded McRae’s Instagram post from April 16 with criticism for the upcoming collaboration. Comments on her recent posts include:

“We were all rooting for you”

“I’m confused about the Morgan Wallen thing, even from an artistic standpoint where were you even going with that”

“scrap the song. i’m so serious”

“This collab is gonna ruin your reputation girly :(”

"Love u angel but please get rid of that unnecessary collab"

“Girl I love you but what the heck with that collab? Please say this is joke”

The majority of the comments on her page share this sentiment and express disappointment in the collaboration. However, most of the comments on Wallen’s posts appear favorable. This is likely because his fan base, who don’t have issues with him as a person, is showing their support.

Why are fans angry?

Tate McRae is seen as a positive figure and a relatable voice to the current generation. She has remained relatively uncontroversial, which is why her working with someone whose values clash with much of her fanbase—and who is known for various controversies—has left many of her supporters confused. She has not publicly addressed the situation, and many fans remain disappointed.

Image Credit: Pixabay from Pexels

The song is still expected to drop next month. The question is: how will the track perform? Will it be met with praise, criticism, or both? Either way, it will certainly gain attention.