The primary Republican debate on Wednesday night time (Aug. 23) kicked off with a query about this week’s Billboard Scorching 100 chart topper, Oliver Anthony Music’s “Wealthy Males North of Richmond.”

“As we sit right here tonight, the No. 1 track on the Billboard chart is named ‘Wealthy Males North of Richmond.’ It’s by a singer from Farmville, Virginia, named Oliver Anthony. His lyrics communicate of alienation, a deep frustration with the state of presidency and of this nation,” co-moderator Martha MacCallum stated to the candidates. “Washington D.C. is about 100 miles north of Richmond,” she continued. “Why is that this track hanging such a nerve on this nation proper now?” 

On Friday (Aug. 25), Anthony himself took to YouTube to share his ideas about his whirlwind success, and about how his track has made its means into political discussions. “The one factor that has bothered me is seeing individuals wrap politics up into this,” the singer stated within the 10-minute clip. “It’s aggravating seeing individuals on conservative information making an attempt to determine with me like I’m certainly one of them.”

He continued, “It looks as if sure individuals need to journey the eye of this track to make their very own selves related, and that’s aggravating as hell. The opposite factor that I discover aggravating is, nicely, it was humorous seeing my track on the presidential debate, as a result of I wrote that track about these individuals. For them to sit down there and hearken to that, that cracks me up.”

Anthony defined that “Wealthy Males” has “nothing to do with Joe Biden, and it’s lots larger than Joe Biden,” earlier than doubling down that the songs are written about “these individuals on that stage” and different politicians.

“I hate to see that track being weaponized,” he added. “That s— has obtained to cease.”

Anthony’s breakout viral hit “Wealthy Males North of Richmond” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100 songs chart. Amongst different chart achievements for the singer-songwriter, he’s the primary artist ever to launch atop the record with no prior chart historical past in any kind.

Watch his full video response beneath.