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A reckless song choice leaves the country heartthrob facing a sea of seriously pissed off faces. Riley Green managed to offend an entire arena full of fans with a single lyric, but to his credit, he turned it around with good ole’ country charm.
Riley Green is currently one of the hottest names on the country charts, but he almost blew up his career in front of a live audience in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of country music. While performing with Drake White, he sang a line from one of his songs that hit his audience where it hurts. Things could have turned ugly, fast, if it wasn’t for Riley’s sense of humor.
RILEY GREEN FACES THE WRATH OF THE TENNESSEE VOLS.
Riley Green Offends Nashville, Nearly Gets ‘Whooped’ Himself
The tension exploded when Green sang the line “Watchin’ Alabama whoop up on Tennessee.” For those who don’t know, this was a direct reference to the Tennessee Volunteers, the star state collegiate football team. The crowd was quick to take offense because to them the lyric was a direct shot at state pride. The boos became so thunderous they actually began to drown out the entire sound system, leaving Riley standing on stage sweating as the audience turned against him.
In the South, college football rivalries are serious business. Disrespecting a team in their home territory is a quick way to get your ass beat or get chased out of town. Praising the Alabama “reds” in Nashville is considered the ultimate sin, celebrity or not. It was a nightmare scenario that could have ruined his night with one audience that matters the most in the country music industry.
But here is the real kicker…
Riley Green hit in the face with a phone during performance
Riley Green is no stranger to dealing with angry audiences, as he once got struck in the face with a phone someone threw from the crowd. They say ‘once bitten, twice shy’ and Riley learned this the hard way. Instead of running off stage, he decided to lean into his sense of humor to diffuse the situation.
What you don’t know is…
He stopped the music and apologized, flashing the smile that makes his fans melt like putty. “We are not Alabama fans, so y’all can relax about that,” he told the crowd. He followed that up with “We actually support the Auburns”, leaving the audience in fits of laughter which managed to save the show. It was funny because the Auburns are the other main rivals for the Vols.
Dealing with rowdy crowds has become a necessary skill for Riley. Whether it is dodging flying electronics or navigating intense football rivalries, he has learned how to turn a disaster into a viral win. He managed to pivot from being the “worst enemy” in the room back to the favorite “pretty boy” in a matter of minutes.
Check this out… Riley is a true performer, he knows how to make the audience feel what he wants them to feel. Watch one of his best performances below and see for yourself.
