Country artist Bryan Martin has put his hand up after he was pulled off stage, intoxicated, and forcibly removed by police.
Martin’s performance at Schaghticoke Fairgrounds on Friday night (Aug. 29) went south, and caused enough concern among fans and event organizers that the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office was notified.
According to a statement from local police, Martin “displayed signs of intoxication and erratic behavior, which ultimately required him to be removed from the stage. Deputies and event staff attempted to assist Mr. Martin offstage, but due to his impaired state, he became resistant and had to be forcibly escorted out.”
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The moment was captured on camera, and shows Martin lifted and removed from the site by a small team of officers.
Martin later turned to social media to apologize for — and explain — his behavior. “Sorry I let yall down tonight… truth is I’m not ok… been hitting it hard for a while and haven’t took time to be honest with myself about my mental health and it’s nothing new to struggle with my anxiety and depression,” he writes in a post on Instagram.
Martin continued, “I apologize for the bad days … but I’m grateful for the countless good nights we’ve shared this year. It’s been the most consistent streak I’ve seen in years.”
He continued, “I’m not ever proud when I reach for another drink.”
In the hours following the incident, reads the police report, Martin “acknowledged that he is struggling with alcoholism. This admission shifts the perspective from one of conflict to one of compassion.”
The larger issue is “not the resistance we encountered—it is the battle Mr. Martin himself is facing,” reads a message from Sheriff Kyle Bourgault. “Addiction is a disease, and it requires both accountability and empathy.”
The Louisiana native reportedly performed the following night at 290 Maine Street in Norway, ME.
Martin, who is signed to Average Joes Records, has had hits including “We Ride,” which reached No. 3 on Billboard Country Airplay chart last year. The single also gave Martin his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, entering at No. 96.