Zach Bryan Confronts Singer During Concert Stop in Tennessee
NASHVILLE, TN – Country music star Zach Bryan was involved in a physical altercation with singer Gavin Adcock following a concert in Newport, Tennessee on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Video circulating on social media appears to show Bryan scaling a fence to confront Adcock, escalating a public feud that began in July.
The conflict stems from a disagreement over Bryan’s stance on fan interactions after his shows. In July, adcock publicly criticized Bryan after Bryan expressed frustration with fans expecting post-concert photos. Adcock posted to X on July 22,questioning,”If you can’t handle the criticism of a 14-year-old why do people idolize you?” and highlighting the financial investment fans make to attend his concerts. Adcock further elaborated on his concerns during an August appearance on rolling Stone’s “Nashville Now” podcast, stating, “I think that Zach Bryan puts on a big mask in his day-to-day life and sometiems he can’t help but rip it off and show his true colors. I don’t know if Zach Bryan’s really that great of a person.”
A short clip of the Saturday altercation, posted by Adcock on his social media accounts, sparked a range of reactions.Some users criticized Adcock for retreating when Bryan approached with his security team, with one commenting, “Dude climbed barbed wire and called you out and you backed down.” Others described Bryan’s actions as “unhinged.”
Following the incident, Adcock posted a video explaining he had intentionally attempted to provoke Bryan but did not want to engage in a physical fight. “No artist that cares about their fans is going to fight right before their set, missing going on and disappointing fans that spent way too much money to be there,” Adcock stated. He also defended backing away,citing concerns about legal repercussions and alleging Bryan “likes to manipulate people with money.”
The incident occurs amidst further scrutiny of Bryan’s personal life. In November, Bryan’s former girlfriend, Brianna LaPaglia, revealed on her “BFFs Podcast” that she declined a $12 million non-disclosure agreement following their breakup, and alleged emotional abuse during their relationship.
USA TODAY has reached out to Bryan’s representatives for comment.