Maren Morris received the Excellence in Media Award at the GLAAD Media Awards New York 2023. The singer-songwriter took the stage to accept the award and recalled her feud with former Fox News star Tucker Carlson.
In September 2022, Morris was in the midst of a feud with social media influencer Brittany Aldean, wife of country singer Jason Aldean. Morris took issue with a transphobic post shared by Brittany. When the influencer was offered a platform by Carlson, they both took the opportunity to call Morris “crazy,” which the singer said encouraged them.
“Well, maybe I felt a little badass when Tucker Carlson called me a nut for standing up to transphobia, made a t-shirt out of it and raised $150,000 for LGBTQ+ charities, yeah,” Morris said. “It made me a little chilly, but I don’t want to be happy. I would never insult the recently unemployed.”
Carlson was ousted from Fox News last month by what is alleged to be a mutual consent. The television personality’s exit coincided with the broadcaster agreeing to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million to settle the voting software company’s defamation lawsuit.
In her speech, Morris also spoke about how the LGBTQ+ community welcomed her in junior high and why taking a stand against transphobia isn’t brave.
“I’ve heard countless times over the years that I’m one of the brave voices in country music, but that’s not true,” she said. “I’m not brave – stubborn to the point of delusion, yes – but not brave. Making the right decision does not require bravery or guts. Achieving basic equal rights for all should not require a heroic effort. I’m a straight white woman – I’m fine. But to leave home and know that you can face violence just for who you are and risk your life just for walking down the street, that’s bravery.”
Watch Morris’ full acceptance speech in the video posted below.