The War and Treaty Country Duo Felt ‘Disrespect’ & ‘Sadness’ After Finding Cotton Plant In Dressing Room: ‘It Just Shouldn’t Happen’

The War and Treaty Country Duo Felt ‘Disrespect’ & ‘Sadness’ After Finding Cotton Plant In Dressing Room: ‘It Just Shouldn’t Happen’

Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival recently issued an apology to two of its performers.

Ahead of their set at the event in Austin, Texas, The War and Treaty country duo, consisting of husband and wife Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, had to deal with an unfortunate situation in their dressing room. The Grammy Award nominees were met with an interesting choice of decoration: a cotton plant. Speaking on what he felt at that moment, Michael Trotter Jr. said during an interview,

“Anger is what I felt. Disrespect is what I felt. Sadness is what I felt. Sadness not just because of what that plant represents to people that look like me but sadness for myself because I am a son of this country. I served this country honorably in the United States Army 16th Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. I’m wounded for that service. I’m very vocal about my wounds and my scars, and I felt betrayed.”

Michael Trotter Jr.

He continued, noting how the incident is something his white singing counterparts don’t have to worry about.

“It’s not fair. It’s something that white artists don’t have to worry about at all. … It just happens to come through the bowels of this genre. So, I feel that it’s not enough for us to talk about it, we have to demand that we be about it.”

The War and Treaty considered leaving the festival but said their 12-year-old son encouraged them to push through. Michael Trotter Jr. shared,

“He said that this is not the time to be quiet about it. He was very upset, and he understood exactly what it meant. He’s home schooled, and he knows what that means, and he doesn’t know what it means because Ty and I have sat down and drilled it in his head.”

Festival organizers apologized in a released statement, claiming “there was no purposeful harm intended.”

“We are disheartened that the artists were ever uncomfortable at last weekend’s event. There was no purposeful harm intended, and we sincerely apologize. Their concern was met with immediate action, including a heartfelt in-person apology, removal of the decor and a personal conversation with the artists by event organizers.”

The War and Treaty

Tanya Trotter added during their recent interview,

“I didn’t want to sit in there and educate because it’s not my position to educate anybody on what cotton is and what it represents in this country. It just shouldn’t happen. Beyond it just being about racism, it’s broader now. It’s now a safety issue because we have to feel safe coming to these festivals.”

What are your thoughts on this entire situation? Tell us in the comments below! 

[VIA: 1,2]