Zach Bryan Apologizes for ‘Drunkenly’ Tweeting He Prefers Kanye West over Taylor Swift, Deletes X Account: ‘Love Taylor’

Zach Bryan has apologized for a controversial tweet about Kanye West and Taylor Swift.

On Thursday, Sept. 19, he compared the two artists in a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter).

“eagles > chiefs,” Bryan, 28, began, per PopCrave. “Kanye > Taylor,”

The country star then concluded by asking his fans, “who’s with me,” which not only prompted online backlash but prompted him to delete his X account.

However, Bryan kept his Instagram active, which featured four Instagram Stories with Ye (formerly Kanye West) songs including “Good Life,” featuring T-Pain, “I Thought About Killing You,” “All Mine” and “Ghost Town” featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR, Billboard reported.

In a series of Instagram Stories on Thursday, Sept. 19, the “Revival” singer “broke his silence” and issued an apology.

“For the record guys I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night,” Bryan began, sharing that he was listening to the single “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone from Swift’s latest album The Tortured Poets Department. “I was drunkenly comparing two records and it came out wrong. I know there’s a lot of stuff that clouds around Ye and I was speaking purely musically. I love Taylor’s music and pray you guys know I’m human and tweet stupid things often. Hope one day I can explain this to her. Twitter gets me in trouble too much and I’d say it’s best I stay off it. I’m sorry to any Taylor fans I pissed off or let down. Love you guys and I’m trying my best!”

In the next post, the “I Remember Everything” musician explained that he was “going through a hard time” in his own life.

“I think I was projecting a little,” Bryan said, sharing an image of Swift’s track “The Albatross” from her TTPD. “To be completely honest, it just came off as rude and desensitized to Taylor. I respect her so much as a musician that the last thing I want is people thinking I don’t appreciate and love what she has done for music. Okay, that’s the last of it! Love you guys and hope you guys understand. Don’t drink and tweet. Don’t drink and tweet!!”

He then complimented the pop megastar, 34.

“Not saving face here, but Taylor has been a force of nature for as long as we’ve all been growing up and I admire that,” Bryan added, sharing the pop megastar’s song “Castles Crumbling” featuring Hayley Williams from Fearless (Taylor’s Version). “I’m gonna go listen to this record now, I never want people to think I have a hint of malice or meanness towards anyone, ever, that’s why Im saying all this. Everyone have the best day of all time, I love ya.”

The “Heading South” performer concluded his apology by saying he plans to “ground” himself: “This year has been an awful lot on me in personal ways that no one knows and I’ve been trying to cope and balance too many things at once. So I’m going to take a breather from tweeting stupid stuff, finish my tour, and ground myself somehow in the midst of all this. I feel very, very blessed each day. Not taking it for granted and holding onto it has been so important to me, Okay, needed to get this off my chest, yall are the best and I’ll see you at Bourbon and Beyond.”

A representative for Bryan didn’t immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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The “Hey Driver” performer is currently in the midst of his Quittin’ Time tour, which is set to wrap Dec. 14, 2024 in Tulsa, Okla. — his home state.

The Middle East, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Turnpike Troubadours, Sheryl Crow, Sierra Ferrell, Matt Maeson and Levi Turner have been supporting acts on tour.