Zach Bryan And Gavin Adcock’s Feud Explained
Here's a breakdown of everything that led up to the Zach Bryan and Gavin Adcock confrontation at the Born & Raised Festival this weekend.
Zach Bryan, Gavin Adcock (Supplied)
What began as a relatively minor dust-up on social media has officially escalated into one of the most talked-about moments in country music this year. Over the weekend at the Born & Raised Festival in Pryor, Oklahoma, tensions between Zach Bryan and Gavin Adcock came to a head.
But let’s rewind and piece together how we got here.
The drama started brewing in July 2025, shortly after Bryan wrapped a three-night run at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. A 14 year old fan took to social media to express disappointment after waiting hours to meet Bryan post show and getting nothing but silence in return.
The video struck a chord. Instead of ignoring it, Bryan jumped into the conversation online with a sharp response: “You’re not entitled after someone plays two and a half hours to a picture or a hello… needed rest… GOMD.” (“Get Off My D---.”)
That’s when Adcock entered the chat, and not quietly. He called out Bryan on X (formerly Twitter), questioning why someone who built his image on authenticity and fan connection would react like that. Adcock didn’t mince words, suggesting that Bryan’s public persona didn’t quite line up with how he treated the people who got him where he is.
The friction didn’t stop there. In August, Adcock doubled down during an appearance on the Rolling Stone Nashville Now podcast, saying Bryan “puts on a big mask in his day-to-day life” and hinting that, behind the scenes, Bryan might not be “that great of a person.” While some fans rallied to Bryan’s defense, others appreciated Adcock’s blunt honesty.
Join our community with our FREE weekly newsletter
Fast forward to September 13, when both artists found themselves at the same place at the same time: the Born & Raised Festival in Oklahoma, Bryan’s home turf. Bryan made a surprise guest appearance during Gabriella Rose’s set, while Adcock was scheduled to headline later that night. With both artists in close proximity backstage, tensions finally boiled over and it was all caught on video.
Footage circulating on social media shows Bryan and Adcock separated by a metal fence. Bryan can be seen yelling at Adcock, demanding he “open the gate” and “fight like a man.” Adcock, for his part, stayed mostly silent, arms crossed, as Bryan shoved at the fence, visibly agitated. At one point, Bryan climbed up and over the fence to get to Adcock.
Shortly after the confrontation, Adcock posted the video with a caption that read: “When you get death threats from Sack Cryin before you headline in his hometown.” He added, “Eat a Snickers, bro.” Implying Bryan was being irrational, Adcock would later suggest explicitly, claiming Bryan was “absolutely wasted” at the time.
The fan reaction was swift and divided. Some criticised Bryan for escalating things to a near physical altercation, pointing out that hopping a barbed-wire fence isn’t exactly rational behavior. Others accused Adcock of baiting Bryan into the confrontation, then hiding behind security and clout-chasing the fallout. Either way, the festival crowd, and the internet, got more fireworks than expected.
In the aftermath, Bryan hasn’t addressed the incident directly, and Adcock along with a few not-so-subtle digs, broke his silence and addressed the incident this morning with a video on social media.
Whether this feud fizzles out or becomes the stuff of country music lore remains to be seen. One thing is clear: this wasn’t just a publicity stunt. The beef feels personal. For now, it’s a reminder that in the age of iPhones and Instagram stories, nothing stays backstage, not even a barbed-wire fence.
More From Our Network
