Country singer Zach Bryan says he was arrested this week, admitting he was an “idiot” and explaining the ordeal on social media Friday. Bryan, 27, was arrested on a misdemeanor complaint of obstructing an investigation, according to CBS Tulsa affiliate KOTV.
After first issue a written statement on X about what he called an “Oklahoma Highway Patrol incident,” Bryan posted a video detailing two incidents with law enforcement this week.
Bryan, an Oklahoma native, said he was first pulled over for speeding while driving through a small town in Oklahoma. He said the officer asked for his license, registration and address — but Bryan told him he was uncomfortable giving his address because he is a musician.
“He says, ‘If you don’t give me your address, I’m going to have to take you to jail,'” Bryan said, adding that after refusing again, the officer asked him to get out of the car and he put handcuff him.
After discussing the situation with the officer and explaining why he didn’t want to give the officer his address, Bryan eventually gave it up, he says in the video. The officer ultimately let Bryan go.
“It frustrated me a lot because I didn’t know if I had the right to refuse to give him my address or not,” Bryan said.
But that was only the first incident. On Friday, Bryan and his security guard began driving from Oklahoma to Boston in separate cars, he says. On the way, Bryan saw his security guard being pulled over.
Bryan exited his car and was told by police to get back into his vehicle, he says. “He says, ‘Get back in your vehicle or I’m going to have to take you to jail.’ Like a dumba** I was like, ‘Take me f***ing jail? What do you mean?'” Bryan said he got “too lippy” with the officer and “didn’t help my situation at all.”
He said that after being handcuffed, he “mouthed like an idiot.” He continued to interrupt the responding officer and was taken to jail for what he said was “a few hours.”
“When I got there, it eased up because I cooled off a little bit,” he said. “The officer and I ended up shaking hands. I ended up apologizing online because I realized my actions didn’t reflect who I was as a person.”
He said he still needs to “deal with the legality” of the arrest. He thanked those who defended him online but said he didn’t need to and admitted he was an “idiot”.
“I went to jail, they didn’t play favorites,” he said. “I was an idiot today and my decisions did not reflect who I am as a person and I want to make that clear. I should have been smarter about that.”
Brian, a naval veteran, was booked at the Craig County Sheriff’s Office, according to CBS Tulsa affiliate KOTV, but it appears his mug shot has been removed from the sheriff’s office website. CBS News has reached out to the sheriff’s office and is awaiting a response.
The obstruction charge is given when someone “intentionally delays or obstructs a public officer in the discharge or attempt to perform any duty of his or her office.”
Bryan received a 2023 Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance for his song “Something In The Orange”. His song “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week.
His self-titled album also hit No. 1 on Billboard Hot 200 this week.
Bryan has advocated inclusivity and had defended transgender rights, according to Entertainment Tonight. Bryan had a public falling out with fellow country singer Travis Tritt this year after Tritt criticized Anheuser-Busch after the company teamed up with actor and influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who is transgender, for a Bud Light ad.
“I mean no disrespect to anyone in particular, I don’t even bother @Travistritt. I just think it’s completely wrong to insult transgender people because we live in a country where we can all just be who we want to be. It’s a great day to be alive, I thought.” Bryan tweeted.
The couple said they spoke in person and worked out their differences.
