Country music star Morgan Wallen initially denied his involvement in the April 2024 incident where a chair was thrown from the rooftop of Chief’s bar in Nashville, according to newly released police video footage. The Metro Nashville Police Department made the footage public after The Associated Press filed a public records request, revealing interactions between Wallen and officers during his arrest.

The video, captured by police car and officers’ body cameras, shows Wallen outside the Chief’s bar on Broadway. When questioned by an officer about the events, Wallen repeatedly claimed ignorance, stating, “I don’t know” and asserting, “We’ve not tried to cause no problems, man. I don’t know what they are, I don’t know why.” He also told an officer, “I ain’t done nothing wrong” while in the backseat of a patrol cruiser, shortly after being handcuffed.

Despite his denials, officers confirmed they had spoken to witnesses who identified Wallen as the individual who threw the chair. Security camera footage also corroborated these accounts. The chair reportedly fell from the sixth-floor rooftop of the Lower Broadway establishment, landing mere feet away from two Metro Nashville police officers’ patrol car.

Wallen was formally arrested on April 8, 2024, and faced serious charges: three counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. The legal proceedings concluded in December 2024 when Wallen pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment in a Nashville court. His sentence included two years’ probation and a mandatory seven-day attendance at a DUI education center.

Following his arrest, nearly two weeks passed before Wallen addressed the incident publicly. In a social media post, he expressed remorse, stating, “I didn’t feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks. I’ve touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I’m not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility.” He also conveyed his respect for law enforcement and confirmed that his ongoing "I’m the Problem Tour" would proceed without changes.

Remarkably, the controversy did not significantly impact Wallen’s career trajectory. His album, "I’m the Problem," continued its impressive run, spending a dozen nonconsecutive weeks at the top of the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, and his stadium-headlining tour successfully continued throughout the year.