Label suspends Wallen's contact after using N-word; radio axes his songs

Big Loud Records said, "In the wake of recent events, Big Loud Records has made the decision to suspend Morgan Wallen's contract indefinitely."

"Republic Records fully supports Big Loud's decision and agrees such behavior will not be tolerated."

Wallen issued an apology on Tuesday, but received blowback from country radio and from artists, including Maren Morris and Mickey Guyton.

Wallen is being touted as the next country superstar following the release last month of "Dangerous: The Double Album."

"I'm embarrassed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better," Wallen said.

The video, posted by TMZ on Tuesday show and apparently recorded by a neighbor, shows Wallen yelling profanities.

As Wallen is going towards his house, he said to a person with him about another friend, ""take care of" this "p**** ass mother******" and then said, "take care of this p**** ass n*****." Wallen went into his house.

After Kelsea Ballerini tweeted, "The news out of Nashville tonight does not represent country music," Maren Morris offered a different viewpoint.

"It actually IS representative of our town because this isn't his first "scuffle" and he just demolished a huge streaming record last month regardless. We all know it wasn't his first time using that word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs with no recourse."

Guyton, one of the few Black artists on a major label said, ""The hate runs deep. Smfh," quoting TMZ's story. She followed up her post with: "This is not his first time using that 'unacceptable' racial slur and we all known that. So what exactly are y'all going to do about it. Crickets won't work this time."

"How many passes will you continue to give? Asking for a friend. No one deserves to be canceled bu this is unacceptable," Guyton tweeted.

iHeartMedia, Entercom, Beasley and CumulusCumulus Media, the second largest radio chain in the country, pulled Wallen's music from rotation as a result.

Variety reported that the station sent out an order to its station with the subject: "MORGAN WALLEN — EXTREMELY IMPORTANT." The message read: "Team, unfortunately country music star Morgan Wallen was captured on video Sunday evening using a racial slur. Effective immediately we request that all of Morgan Wallen's music be removed from our playlists without exception. More to follow."

Brian Philips, executive vice president of programming for Cumulus, and John Dimick, its head of programming operations, signed the statement.

This is not the first incident with Wallen. In October, days before he was slated to appear on Saturday Night Live, he was caught partying maskless in a bar near the University of Alabama, leading to postponement of his appearance on SNL until January. He had promised at the time of the Alabama incident to take stock of his life and actions.