Maren Morris Raises $100K for Trans Causes After 'Lunatic' Insult

Country music star Maren Morris has raised more than $100,000 for transgender causes after speaking out for trans rights and being blasted for doing so.

Morris is selling T-shirts bearing the words "Lunatic Country Music Person" and the phone number for Trans Lifeline, with proceeds being divided between the lifeline and GLAAD's Transgender Media Program.

Morris was called a "lunatic country music person" by Fox News host Tucker Carlson after she responded to anti-trans comments from Brittany Aldean, wife of country singer Jason Aldean. Brittany Aldean had posted August 23 on Instagram, "I'd really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life."

She got blowback, with singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope pointing out that having a "tomboy phase" and seeking to transition are hardly the same thing. "You'd think celebs with beauty brands would see the positives in including LGBTQ+ people in their messaging," Pope tweeted. "But instead here we are, hearing someone compare their 'tomboy phase' to someone wanting to transition. Real nice."

Morris replied to Pope's tweet with a clap back at Aldean. "It's so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie." Aldean had posted a photo of sweatshirts she was selling imprinted with the words "Don't tread on our kids" in the font used for the Barbie doll and related products. "Don't tread on me" is a phrase that goes back to the American Revolution and has been picked up by supporters of Donald Trump, including those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Aldeans are friendly with Trump and celebrated this past New Year's Eve with him at Mar-a-Lago, The Tennessean notes.

The back-and-forth continued, with Brittany Aldean posting an Instagram Story August 26 in which she spewed misleading information about gender transition. "Advocating for the genital mutilation of children under the disguise of love and calling it 'gender affirming care' is one of the worst evils. I will always support my children and do what I can to protect their innocence," she wrote. "The other day Memphis wanted to be a dinosaur and tomorrow Navy will want to be a cat. They're children. Some parents want to be accepted by society so badly that they're willing to make life-altering decisions for their children who aren't old enough to fully comprehend the consequences of those actions. Love is protecting your child until they are mature enough as an adult to make their own life decisions. Thankful my parents allowed me to go through my tom boy phase without changing my gender."

Genital surgery is not recommended for minors, and the treatments given to minors, such as hormones and puberty blockers, are generally reversible. And any treatments for minors are undertaken only after extensive consultation with medical professionals.

Then Jason Aldean was dropped by his longtime public relations firm, The GreenRoom, last Thursday. The firm didn't say if the decision was driven by his wife's comments, Billboard reports, but Brittany Aldean appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight the same day, and that was when Carlson made the "lunatic" remark. He also called Morris a "country music person who I hope leaves country music immediately for the viciousness of her attack."

Morris took the insult and made it into a badge of honor. She tweeted a screenshot of it as her "new profile pic" and then began marketing the T-shirts. She reported Saturday that sales have now exceeded $100,000.

Both Trans Lifeline and GLAAD tweeted thanks to her.