Ah, another cancel culture casualty.
The popular country band Lady Antebellum is changing its name to “Lady A” because the word “antebellum” refers to pre-war America.
The Grammy-winning group announced the name change via Twitter on Thursday, saying the shift follows “much personal reflection,” “prayer,” and conversations with their “closest black friends.”
“We are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery,” the band said in a statement.
“We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen, or unvalued,” the statement continued.
The name change comes as protests and violent riots continue to spread across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, a white man who has since been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter.
The Lady A members — Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood — said they originally chose the now-censored name “Lady Antebellum” because they took their first band photos in a southern, antebellum-style home, which reminded them of the rock, blues, and gospel music that inspired their aesthetic and sound.
I wrote more about our cancel culture here.