Chris Young responded to “trolls” following his arrest in a Nashville bar last week.
The country star, 38, posted a surveillance video on TikTok on Sunday evening (January 28), set to his David Bowie-inspired single and the title track of his forthcoming album, “Young Love & Saturday Nights.” Text over the video read: “For all the trolls saying ‘don’t touch a cop’ … I didn’t touch him.” Young added in his caption, “stop coming at me.”
Young has been cleared of all charges related to the incident, which happened on Monday, January 22. Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents were conducting a compliance check at Tin Roof in Midtown Nashville around 8:30 p.m. That’s when they encountered Young for the first time. Young and several others reportedly followed the agents when officials conducted compliance checks next door, at Dawg House Saloon. An agent reported that Young “struck me on the shoulder,” and said the incident turned “hostile.” Young was accused of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault on an officer.
Surveillance video evidence, however, raised questions about what happened that night. Young appeared to outstretch his arm, though he said he never struck the agent, and the agent pushed the 6’4’’ artist backward.
“What happened to my client Chris Young at a bar in Nashville on Monday night was wrong and he never should have been arrested and charged in the first place,” Young’s attorney, Bill Ramsey, said in a statement last week. “In light of the video evidence, Tennessee ABC needs to drop the charges and apologize for the physical, emotional and professional harm done towards my client.”
Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk announced in a statement on Friday evening (January 26) that Young’ was cleared of all charges. Funk said in a statement: “Regarding the Chris Young incident — After review of all the evidence in this case, the Office of the District Attorney has determined that these charges will be dismissed.”
Ramsey added that he and Young (who was previously unable to publicly comment on the incident), “are gratified with the DA’s decision clearing him of the charges and any wrong-doing.”
Young recently announced his next full-length album — his most ambitious to date, at 18 tracks — will make its debut next month. He’ll kick off his headlining tour of the same name this spring. Young Love & Saturday Nights is set to release on March 22.