Morgan Wallen discusses his use of a racist slur.

Morgan Wallen discusses his use of a racist slur. 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – Morgan Wallen, the disgraced country singer, claimed it was foolish of him to use a racist slur in his first interview in six months.

During an interview with Michael Strahan on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday, Wallen stated that he did not use the term in a pejorative sense, but that it was nonetheless incorrect.

When the video was uploaded on TMZ in February, Wallen was already one of the genre's greatest artists, with crossover songs like "Whiskey Glasses." Wallen had already apologized for using the slur, and while radio stations and streaming platforms briefly removed him from playlists, his record sales increased.

He was disqualified from the Academy of Country Music Awards, although he is still eligible for many Country Music Association Awards. Since then, he has returned to Billboard's country radio list with his first single since the event, and his album, "Dangerous: The Double Album," has remained the most successful album released this year across all genres.

Wallen admitted to Strahan that he had been drinking all weekend leading up to the February night.

“I was with several of my buddies, and we were saying foolish things together,” Wallen explained. “It's fun in our thoughts. That may appear to be uninformed, yet it is the source of the problem. And it's incorrect.”

He denied using the word on a regular basis, claiming that he only used it with a select group of pals.

After explaining some of the historical contexts behind the word, Strahan questioned Wallen directly if he understood why it upsets Black people.

“I don't know how to put myself in their shoes because I am not, you know,” Wallen added, “but I understand.” “Especially when I claim I'm using it jokingly or ignorantly, I realize that may sound like 'He doesn't understand.'"

Wallen stated that he took time off and went to treatment following the event. When record sales increased as a result of the industry's criticism of him, he chose to give around $500,000 to groups such as the Black Music Action Coalition.

Country music has long struggled with how to handle diversity in a genre dominated by white male musicians, but Wallen's actions have brought the subject to the forefront. Another famous country artist, Luke Combs, apologized last year for his previous usage of the Confederate flag.

When questioned if there was an issue with racism in country music as a whole, Wallen said, "It would appear that way, absolutely." I haven't actually given it much thought.”