In a new interview on the Work in Progress podcast posted on Thursday (August 29), Maren Morris discussed the backlash she received after criticizing Morgan Wallen for using a racial slur back in 2021. “I mean, the death threat portion for me as a young mother was obviously scary,” Morris revealed to host Sophia Bush. “And it wasn’t death threats against me. It was against my son, too. So it’s like, ‘Oh, wow. Now we’re involving the kids, the ones that you cared so much about.’” Morris’ son Hayes, whom she shares with her ex-husband Ryan Hurd, was less than a year old at that time.

The backlash was in response to Morris’ tweet that called out Wallen, “We all know it wasn’t his first time using that word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs with no recourse.” Morris defended her actions and questioned the criticism she received during the podcast, saying, “You’re like, ‘How are people this pissed over the criticism of cruelty?’ I think it’s because they’re not only defending the person that said this, but they’re taking it personally as if I’m criticizing them.” (Billboard)