Country star Zach Bryan posts apologies, explanation video after Oklahoma arrest

VINITA, Okla. — Country star Zach Bryan was arrested Thursday in Oklahoma for obstruction of an investigation.

In a post on X Thursday, formerly known as Twitter, the singer said he had an "incident" with Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

"Emotions got the best of me and I was out of line in the things I said," Bryan said.

He said he was frustrated in the moment and apologized.

Bryan then posted a video on X around 3 a.m. Friday explaining his side of the story.

"I just wanted to be completely transparent with everyone who listens to my music about what happened yesterday with me getting arrested and everything because I don't want the internet to do what the internet does and, like, I don't know, make stuff up," the singer said while sitting in his vehicle at a Love's Travel Stops gas station.

According to Bryan, the story begins three days prior when he was driving through "a small town in Oklahoma." He said he was driving four or five miles per hour over the speed limit when he was pulled over by an officer.

Bryan said the officer asked for his license, vehicle registration and his address. Bryan allegedly told the officer he is a musician and did not feel comfortable giving him his address. According to the singer, the officer said he would have to take Bryan to jail if he didn't provide his address. Bryan allegedly told the officer he would not give his address, and the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle. The singer was then allegedly put in handcuffs.

Bryan said he asked the officer why he was doing this, and the officer asked him why he would not provide his address. The singer allegedly explained his situation and eventually gave up his address. After a discussion, the officer removed the handcuffs and gave Bryan a warning, the singer said.

"I think it just frustrated me a lot because I didn't know if I had a right to refuse giving him my address or not," Bryan said.

Bryan hit the road again Thursday, heading to Boston to watch his favorite football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. His security guard was traveling behind him in a separate vehicle, the singer explained.

The two were in Vinita, Oklahoma, when his security guard was pulled over by Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Bryan said he went around the block and parked behind the security guard to wait for him.

Bryan said after 10 or 15 minutes, he got out of his vehicle and asked what was taking so long. The trooper allegedly told Bryan to get back in his vehicle. The singer said he questioned the decision and was told he would be taken to jail if he did not get back in his vehicle.

"Like a dumba**, I said, 'Take me to f***ing jail? What do you mean?" Bryan explained in his video post.

The singer said he got "too lippy" with the trooper and was brought over to the trooper's vehicle, where he was placed in handcuffs and put in the front seat.

"I just didn't help my situation at all. I felt like a child. It was ridiculous. It was immature. And I just pray everyone knows that I don't think I'm above the law. I was just being disrespectful and I shouldn't have been," he said.

Bryan said he complained that the handcuffs were hurting him. The trooper allegedly said "they're not supposed to be comfortable" and was "just being a cop," Bryan described. The singer said he was getting angrier with the situation.

Roughly 15 minutes later, the trooper let him out of his vehicle, according to Bryan. The singer said he was "mouthing off like an idiot" and questioned the trooper.

The trooper allegedly told Bryan he needed to say something and asked the singer not to interrupt him. Bryan allegedly said he wanted to say his peace after the trooper was finished.

"He started talking. I interrupted him — naturally 'cause I was just angry," Bryan explained. "So he said, 'I'm going to take you to jail.' And he took me to jail."

The singer said he was in jail for a few hours and everyone was "super kind." He said he and the trooper eventually shook hands.

"The night ended OK. I have to deal with the legalities of it when I go back home," Bryan said. "The people of Vinita were super kind. I just want to tell the story and get it out there before someone blew it out of proportion."

Bryan ended the video by thanking his fans.

In a post hours later, Bryan said he is "not trying to save face" and respects police officers.

"I am embarrassed for myself, my family and the people I love but all I can do now is sincerely apologize," he wrote.

Bryan exploded onto the country music scene in April 2022 with his hit song "Something in the Orange." His self-titled album, which was released on August 25, landed in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard chart. He is scheduled to bring his "The Quittin Time Tour" to Empower Field at Mile High on June 15, 2024.

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