We now comprehend why the music video for Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” was altered: the production company violated the law by using unauthorized FOX footage.

According to sources involved with the production of the music video, the production company contacted FOX on May 8 to request permission to use a 6-second segment of footage captured by FOX 5 Atlanta depicting violence at a BLM event.

Apparently, individuals at FOX requested additional information, specifically the song’s lyrics. According to reports, the production company sent FOX a link to the song, which was released on May 19. However, per protocol, they were also required to submit the lyrics in writing, which they never did.

The footage was published on July 14 in a music video featuring Jason standing in front of a courtroom.

According to our sources, FOX requested that the production company withdraw the video a week ago in order to avoid legal action. This was conveyed to us as a “polite ultimatum,” and the production company complied.

Therefore, nobody even observed that the newly modified film had been available online for a week.

The topic of discussion was Aldean’s popular song “Try That In A Small Town,” which was released in May but has recently attracted attention from the left and received criticism for using footage of the 2020 rioting.

The song’s lyrics, which are supported by video footage, describe instances of demonstrators and protestors engaging in violent behavior, such as setting fires, shattering windows, and committing other acts of destruction. In addition to shouting and vomiting at police officers, the song also describes burning the American flag. The remainder of the song cautions listeners against engaging in such behavior in minor towns, implying that residents would not tolerate it.

The country performer, an outspoken conservative, responded to the criticism by stating that nothing in the video was intended as an attack on any particular person or group, but rather to emphasize the actions of some individuals during the riotous period.

However, as usual, Aldean’s liberal co-hosts on The View adopted a different strategy and made a number of claims that were evidently false in light of his justifications.

“I’m actually not going to give [Aldean] the benefit of the doubt,” Sunny Hostin, a former attorney, said at one point.

“As a lawyer, when I put my legal hat on, I don’t believe in censorship,” she continued. “However, this man is from Macon, Georgia. My father’s from Augusta, Georgia, and Macon, Georgia. I spent many summers there. … It is one of the most racist places in this country.

“So don’t tell me that he knew nothing about what that imagery [from the music video] meant. … So I don’t give him the benefit of the doubt,” she claimed.

According to The Western Journal, Macon County has a black population of 59.3 percent compared to a white population of 37 percent.

At the conclusion of the episode, Hostin was required to recite a “legal note” from Aldean and his staff, which was essentially a statement.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “I have a legal note: Jason Aldean defended his song in a statement, saying the references people have made are not only meritless but dangerous.”

“He added there is not a single lyric in that song that references race or points to it, and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage,” she continued.

Co-host Joy Behar interposed, effectively rejecting Aldean’s explanation and accusing him of subliminal animosity. “Did you ever hear of a dog whistle?” she said.

Former President Donald Trump recently lauded Aldean on Truth Social, writing, “Jason Aldean is a fantastic guy who just came out with a great new song. Support Jason all the way. MAGA!!!”

On social media, the artist personally addressed the subject.

“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless but dangerous,” Aldean wrote in a tweet earlier this week.

“There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it – and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage – and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music – this one goes too far,” he said.

Then, Aldean brought up his own experience with pervasive violence by recalling his 2017 performance at the horrific Route 91 Harvest concert. During the incident, a man opened fire, murdering 61 individuals.

“As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91 – where so many lost their lives – and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy,” he said, adding a reference to a recent school shooting in Nashville in March that left six dead.

“NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart. ‘Try That In A Small Town,’ for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences,” he continued.

“My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this country don’t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we got at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to – that’s what this song is about,” he said.

“To me, this song summarizes the way a lot of people feel about the world right now. It seems like there are bad things happening on a daily basis, and that feels unfamiliar to a lot of us. This song sheds some light on that.”