Folk-country artist Zach Bryan’s mugshot, which was taken on September 7, 2023, at 6:42 p.m. following his arrest in Vinita, Oklahoma, due to an “incident with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol,” immediately – and rather unexpectedly – became the Internet’s interest of the night. That is, his smug look caught the attention of some witty people and ended up as the subject of jokes and memes.
Probably the funniest Zach Bryan mugshot meme that came out of the situation was a clip of his face photoshopped into the signature orange jumpsuit worn by prisoners. Twitter user @LaurenRock even used the singer’s track “Something in the Orange.” See what they did there? This was the song that propelled him into the mainstream and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance a few months later.
Zach Bryan got a No. 1 album, No. 1 single & a mugshot all in one week.
— Lauren Crime (@LaurenRock) September 8, 2023
“I got too lippy with him… I shouldn’t have behaved like that, and it won’t happen again." pic.twitter.com/Ox6XY3snWp
But it wasn’t just temporary fun. For some, it was a way to have some fun and also earn money in the process by permanently etching Bryan’s memes on unofficial merchandise – just like this t-shirt.
Zach Bryan Mugshot Shirt Mugshot Shirt Zach Bryan Arrested Shirt
— teefall (@teefall2004) September 8, 2023
Crafted with quality in mind, this shirt is made from soft and comfortable fabric, ensuring a pleasant wearing experience.
More: https://t.co/lOq3My2E64#Zach_Bryan_TShirt pic.twitter.com/4CFTyjmHeX
It gives an “orange is the new black” kind of vibe, and Bryan looks so proud. And some fans found that VERY attractive.
i know i’m toxic bc zach bryan’s mugshot makes me love him even more
— jamie (@jamie_burgin) September 8, 2023
However, the most popular of all of Zach Bryan’s mugshot reactions would be Spotify’s take. Eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed that they snagged his mugshot and placed it as the cover art for their “Outlaw playlist. As Us Weekly noted, the streaming service seemed to remind its subscribers that the country star is indeed an outlaw.
For You
Spotify features Zach Bryan's mugshot as the cover art for their “Outlaw” playlist. pic.twitter.com/cPx7JOMxfU
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 9, 2023
That wasn’t the end of it, though. The playlist description also featured his “Something in the Orange” as track number one. And they had a variety of reactions, including people getting weirded out by the change and some who thought it was cold for them to do so. Nevertheless, it couldn’t be argued that this was a cleverly timed post.
Zach Bryan’s Mugshot and the Outlaw Country Connection
Bryan’s mugshot feature on Spotify’s Outlaw Country playlist cover made him a peer of sorts of the original outlaws Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson, as well as the contemporary badasses Jason Isbell and Margo Price.
Well, for one, he ticked off a common experience among these names: jail time. Or, at the very least, some kind of involvement with the authorities that got their faces documented three times from different angles. And this solidified his outlaw country image. Second, his apology video seemed to have endeared fans and was even considered a character-builder. His response amplified his authenticity, maintaining an accessible, unguarded nature.
Zach Bryan’s arrest definitely made noise, especially since he had just released his self-titled sophomore album at the time. But it probably won’t make a dent in his future as an artist. After all, it’s not a new thing. If anything, it’s quite too familiar.
Catch Zach Bryan’s mugshot in the photos below.
