Morgan Wallen has released his new album, I’m the Problem, which features his controversial duet “What I Want” with up-and-coming pop girl Tate McRae. The song, released on Friday, has garnered criticism from McRae’s fans who have questioned her decision to work with the country singer, given his contentious reputation.
“Tate McRae, if you’re going to put your neck out and do a collab, maybe we could at least make it interesting,” Zachary, a content creator known as the “Swiftologist,” said on TikTok. “It’s a rude interruption into what is otherwise a fantastic victory summer for Miss McRae.”
With a career rife with controversy, Wallen has developed a reputation as country music’s bad boy. The 32-year-old singer pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment in 2024, was suspended by his record label after footage of him using a racial slur surfaced in 2021, and was accused of violating COVID-19 protocols in 2020. The singer was also previously charged with driving under the influence in Nashville in 2016, though his case was ultimately dismissed.
Morgan Wallen and Mikey Madison during the March 29 taping of Saturday Night Live. (Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images)
Wallen most recently drew backlash in March, when he was seen abruptly walking off the Saturday Night Live stage. At the end of the episode, which boasted Anora star Mikey Madison as its host, Wallen is seen hugging Madison and leaving the stage, while the rest of the cast remains as the credits roll. When asked about the moment, Wallen denied any ill will between him and the late-night sketch show.
“I was just ready to go home. I’d been there all week,” the country singer told Sundae Conversation host Caleb Pressley in May.
While McRae’s decision to team up with Wallen may seem surprising, the 21-year-old singer appears to be a fan of Wallen’s music, having performed a rendition of his Post Malone duet, “I Had Some Help,” ahead of one of her shows in July 2024.
“Pop girlies no longer get to play the ‘I didn’t know’ card in 2025,” a TikTok creator named Kimberly said. “In 2025, collaborating with someone like Morgan Wallen is not just a creative decision. It is literally a calculated brand alignment.”
McRae has already reached several career highs this year: She released her latest album, So Close to What, in February, nabbed her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, is currently on her Miss Possessive world tour and unveiled her Paper Magazine cover story on Wednesday.
On X, a user with the handle @ChnRstrntKng wrote, “I’m a Tate McRae fan and a Morgan Wallen hater so I’m going to have to think long and hard about whether or not I ever want to listen to this song.”
Another X user wrote, “The worst girl you know is so excited about the Morgan wallen Tate McRae collab.”
A TikTok creator known as Gray revealed that the news of McRae’s duet with Wallen was enough reason to stop supporting her.
“I just cannot get past that,” said Gray. “If she’s collabing with Morgan Wallen? Not a main pop girl.”
Wallen fans, meanwhile, are welcoming the collaboration with open arms. Even some McRae fans, while seemingly in the minority, are impressed by the track.
“Unpopular Opinion: I’m OBSESSED with this collab!!!” wrote a TikToker named Ava.
Taylor Faith, another content creator, declared, “Not to be dramatic but this Morgan Wallen x Tate McRae collab just rewired my brain chemistry.”
Despite his controversies, the country singer still appears to be beloved within his genre and among his fans. He’s also quick to sing his collaborator’s praises. Wallen spoke highly of McRae in the days leading up to his album’s release, calling his decision to work with the “Sports Car” singer a “no-brainer.”
“She was an absolute pleasure to work with on the feature. She did everything very timely,” he told Holler. “We didn’t get to work on it in the studio together, but the song wasn’t originally written for her in mind. It was written in a [male] key, technically, and she just absolutely crushed every single part of the song. I’m fired up for people to hear it!”
