Hannah Brown has been cast as America’s sweetheart -- albeit in reality TV style -- but the Alabama native’s image was tarnished this weekend after she filmed herself saying the N-word.
The “Bachelorette” star, 25, faced backlash on social media after she posted an Instagram Live video of herself on Saturday, singing the lyrics to DaBaby’s “Rockstar.” In the video, Brown appears hesitant when she gets to the racial slur, but sings it anyway.
After some of her 2.8 million followers -- evidently watching live on Instagram -- expressed outrage in the comments, Brown responded in a confused and giggly way, saying she didn’t realize she was saying that word. “I did? I’m so sorry,” Brown said, smiling widely into the camera. “I was singing this ... I’m so sorry. ... Maybe it was Patrick. Um, anyway.” (Patrick is the name of Brown’s brother.)
A woman in the background can be heard saying, “That wasn’t you. ... I don’t think that you said that.”
The video has been removed from Brown’s Instagram, but it remains on social media, captured by folks who took Brown to task for her insensitivity and the giggly nature of her initial apology.
.@hannahbrown singing the n word. This is deplorable and while it isn’t my apology, the fact that you would giggle about it as you and your friend deny you saying it and that you’d say “no that’s Patrick”... beyond impermissible. You need to ACTUALLY address this.
270 people are talking about this
On Sunday, Brown posted another apology (text only) on Instagram Stories, saying, “I owe you all a major apology. There is no excuse and I will not justify what I said. I have read your messages and seen the hurt I have caused. I own it all. I am terribly sorry and know that whether in public or private, this language is unacceptable. I promise to do better.”
"Bachelorette" star Hannah Brown offered this apology on Instagram after followers slammed her for singing the N-word.(Instagram screenshot)
Anger continues to erupt Sunday on social media, as “Bachelorette” fans and others blast Brown for her actions. Some have said Brown appears drunk in the video, but aren’t giving her a pass because of it.
not only did @hannahbrown say the N word, the hard R, N word, but she also didn’t even notice she said it until someone pointed it out. This means she’s way too comfortable saying it to not even notice. Like, how did she not recognize she said it right away? Cancelled
This was my reaction too. Like wtf? You say it so often and so casually that you don’t even realize when you said it??
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IFYOU
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We were rooting for you @hannahbrown but the N word with a hard “er” at the end coming from a southern girl is not a good look at all. Smh. #BachNation #HannahB
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Hannah Brown apologizing on her instagram story is weak. People really need to learn it is never justified or okay say a racial slur in the name of "singing along" to a song.
Never okay in any circumstance.
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GROSS @hannahbrown and the fact that you laughed your way through the “apology.” Hope all your sponsors drop you. twitter.com/pastelhour/sta…
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's other Tweets
's other TweetsI guarantee you if Hannah Brown said the n word while drunk she definitely says it sober too ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pretty disturbing she giggled while “apologizing” immediately after
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I knew I wasnt a fan of Hannah browns when she was on the bachelor and bachelorette. Now i dislike her even more and ready for her fame to be up! I’m sorry just because it is a song lyric doesn’t mean you should still sing it. You skip the f word but say the other word wow!!
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Hannah Brown is a whole dumbass. Her roar crap, her inability to speak coherently, even to give a toast, and the complete lack of judgment in men...but saying the n word isn't her stupidity, its hate. To say the word on camera in 2020 is a fully racist act.
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Can y’all not with the Hannah Brown was singing lyrics to a song...She said the n word with a HARD -ER meaning she’s said it before and most likely OFTEN...It rolled right off the tongue
.Its inexcusable!
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@hannahbrown thank you so much for perpetuating the racist southern stereotype. I’mdone with you. Shame.
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I was a huge Hannah Brown fan but there is no excuse to say such a deplorable word. I don’t care if you were singing. I’m out#bachelornation
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Others are defending Brown as the controversy rages on social media.
I was a big fan of Bachelorette/DWTS Winner Hannah Brown, until she decided to drop a hard N word in a rap song and then smirk and laugh through an “apology”. HB, you’re done in my book! Now considered irrelevant. @hannahbrown
So, the rapper can say it all he wants through the "song", but let a white girl sing it and it's racist? I don't think so. If you consider this racist you're a big pathetic part of the world's major problems. She owes no one an apology if the artist doesn't owe one.
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#UnpopularOpinion but @hannahbrown shouldn’t be getting the hate she is for what happened! There is a difference between mindlessly singing a song and actively trying to use language to hurt other people. Y’all are just looking for something to complain about
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I love how the entire world is perfect when they drink yet @hannahbrown is notOmg! She was singing a song that someone else wrote grow the f up babies
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I just want to know why @hannahbrown singing the ACTUAL LYRICS to a song is so offensive. I mean, if its wrong to be said at all then why is it said by everyone else? An "artist" put it in a song..shouldn't we be shamming them instead? Get over it! #DoubleStandards
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@hannahbrown you’re the queen. Let the haters hate like always. They are gnna do anything in their power to try and “cancel” you. not gnna happen. You were singing a song. Not having some ghetto ass conversation calling someone that. I got your back girl lol
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YOU say no. Who are you to decide what black people should be offended by? White people like you who simply don’t care about how we feel lack empathy. It hurts you to be excluded. It’s tragic really. Have a nice night. I hope one day you can learn to empathize instead of justify.
Its funny cause I know there is so much racism & it makes me sick. I also believe we live in a world where we all need to practice tolerance. I don't think she was being racist or had ANY bad intent. Intent is the key here. You seem to have a lot of anger and Im done w ur energy
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Oh my god leave @hannahbrown alone. It’s a song. If you’re going to go at her, go at everyone who has ever sang that song. More importantly whoever wrote it. Get over it stop taking shit so seriously. You act as if it was directed at someone.
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Nobody wants to say it so bad.... its innocent. Is it racist to use the N word in every day language? YES. Is it racist for someone to softly say it when signing the lyrics to a song she likes? I say no. It was completely innocent.
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The thing is that @hannahbrown is a good person who will learn from this situation. It's a learned behavior and behaviors can change just like people. She's sorry and won't do it again.
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I think the backlash is excessive and she shouldn’t have to apologize. Let’s be reasonable. If someone obviously didn’t say it in a hateful way we should relax
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Brown, a Tuscaloosa native, was the Season 15 star of “The Bachelorette" and the Season 28 winner of “Dancing with the Stars.” She won a 2019 People’s Choice Award and is a former Miss Alabama USA. Brown graduated in 2017 from the University of Alabama. Prior to her reality TV fame, she worked as an interior decorator in Northport.
Brown has been active on social media during the coronavirus pandemic, posting dance videos on TikTok and photos and videos on Instagram.