Zach Bryan Deactivates X/Twitter, Apologizes to Taylor Swift After ‘Drunkenly Comparing’ Her to Kanye West

Zach Bryan has deactivated his Twitter/X account after “drunkenly” declaring his preference for Kanye West over Taylor Swift — but turned to Instagram Thursday morning to make amends.

The trouble started on Tuesday night when Bryan, a vocal supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles (who lost to Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 Super Bowl), tweeted, “eagles > chiefs Kanye > Taylor who’s with me.”

Not surprisingly, the tweet brought forth a tidal wave of angry Swifties. The backlash became so loud that Bryan explained in a follow-up tweet Wednesday that he “drunkenly” made his offending statement after listening to Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology song “Thank You Aimee,” a not-so-subtle jab directed at Kim Kardashian and her ex-husband Kanye West.

“Guys I love Taylor, was listening to TTPD last night and thank you aimee came on and I drunkenly tweeted about Kanye,” Bryan tweeted. “If anyone took it serious please know I love both artists a lot and think we’re in a really beautiful time of music.”

Despite the explanation, the damage was done, and Bryan promptly deactivated his Twitter/X account, which, as of Thursday morning, was still down.

Bryan’s Instagram is still active, however, and in his Stories, he posted a long statement accompanied by an audio clip of Swift’s “Fortnight,” where he attempted to mollify the situation. 

“For the record guys I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night,” Bryan wrote. “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 to her.” 

As for his X deactivation, Bryan wrote, “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 a follow-up Story soundtracked by Swift’s “The Albatross,” Bryan added, “I’ve been going through a hard time in my own life and I think I was projecting a little. 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 people thinking I don’t appreciate and love what she has done for music.”

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In two more Stories Thursday morning, Bryan continued to praise Swift, “a force of nature for as long as we’ve all been growing up and I admire that,” and confirmed his break from Twitter/X. “I’m going to take a breather from tweeting stupid stuff, finish my tour, and ground myself somehow in the midst of all this.”

And as Bryan reiterated, “Don’t drink and tweet!!”