(NEXSTAR) – Morgan Wallen isn’t about to let his new catchphrase go un-monetized: The country singer’s official website is now selling T-shirts and hats emblazoned with the phrase “Get Me to God’s Country,” a reference to a remark he posted on Instagram after his controversial exit from “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend.
Wallen, 31, was the musical guest on Saturday’s episode, performing songs from his forthcoming album, “I’m the Problem.” But he made waves on social media after cameras captured him abruptly walking off the “SNL” soundstage almost as soon as the credits began to roll at the end of Saturday’s episode.
Not long after, Wallen posted a photo of a plane to his Instagram stories. It was overlaid with text reading, “Get me to God’s country.”
In the days that followed, some fans of “SNL” took offense to Wallen’s exit, which they viewed as rude. But others — mostly critics of the sketch show — applauded Wallen for what they viewed as some sort of intentional act of defiance.
Sources for Wallen, however, had told Variety that there was no ill will between Wallen and the “SNL” crew. And another source who spoke to TMZ suggested that Wallen — who would exit the stage the same way during rehearsals — may have accidentally left the stage prematurely.
Wallen has yet to address the controversy directly. But his official website has since started to sell “Get Me to God’s Country” merchandise for pre-order. The items are expected to start shipping in June.
This week, Wallen also appeared on the “This Past Weekend” podcast with comedian Theo Von, where he suggested that he isn’t entirely comfortable with the attention that fame has brought him, calling it “not ideal.”
“There’s things that you just don’t do. You just don’t do ‘em anymore, you know? But that’s OK. That’s why I’ve taken up hunting so much, I think. Because I can go be with my buddies, I’m in the middle of nowhere. I can be at ease, I can not stress out,” Wallen said.
The podcast was recorded on March 21. Wallen did not address his then-upcoming appearance on “SNL.”