The Media Should Not Publish The Randy Travis Arrest Tape, But They Should Have Every Right To
After five years of legal wrangling, the video of Randy Travis being arrested for DWI after crashing his Trans Am and being found naked in the middle of the road by sheriff’s deputies near Tioga, TX has finally been released. Despite incredible efforts to keep the footage under seal by Travis and his representatives, a promise by the initial judge in the case to destroy the tape as part of a plea deal, the overruling of that order by an appellate court, and plenty of Freedom of Information Act requests by local and national media, all legal recourse had finally been exhausted by the Randy Travis camp.
In the tape (which Saving Country Music has chosen to not publish), Randy Travis can be seen naked, swearing profusely, threatening to kill the arresting sheriff’s deputy, using the Lord’s name in vain, and saying disparaging things about his family and his current wife. Obviously, the tape is not very flattering to Travis, who is clearly very drunk and distraught.
Representatives for Randy Travis argued that the footage—which in total lasts for three hours—should have not been released since Travis had suffered a concussion during the incident, making the tape the jurisdiction of medical records law that allows such evidence to remain private. A Federal Judge did not agree, and ordered the tape released to the public on Friday, December 1st. After the Randy Travis camp lost the court case, they pleaded with media to not post the footage. A petition was also circulated on change.org, asking for the tape to not be released and published by media. Nonetheless, TMZ and others published excerpts and snippets from the tape on Monday (12-4), creating a moment of national embarrassment for the Country Music Hall of Famer.
The Randy Travis arrest tape case cuts at very critical matters facing Freedom of the Press, privacy laws, and criminal justice in America in an era when law enforcement is under increasing pressures to be transparent and accountable. It is unfortunate that the Randy Travis video made its way into the public purview to be published for the commercial benefit of media outlets, and in direct harm to the reputation of Randy Travis. Any media outlet should ask what the benefit is to the public, and to the communities and constituencies they serve by publishing such content, and if they were being honest, the answer would be “none.”
However, it is imperative that the media and the public have access to public information such as dashcam footage, 911 call logs, police reports, court filings, and other pieces of information pertaining to the activity of law enforcement to make sure nothing illegal or improprietous occurrs in an arrest or detention, and the civil rights of all who are accused of a crime are respected.
You cannot expect or allow the law to deal with individuals differently because they are famous, rich, poor, white, black, or for any other reason. The purpose of dash cams and body cams is just as much to protect the public as it is to collect evidence. The same laws that seem to be against Randy Travis at the moment would be the same laws that could protect him or any other individual in case they had been assaulted by the arresting officer, mistreated in some way, framed, or otherwise had their civil rights violated. Only by allowing these bits of evidence to be viewed by the media and the public can law enforcement and other officials be kept accountable through a system of checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution of the United States.
In the case of the Randy Travis arrest, the arresting officer acted very respectful, courteous, and was even jovial with Travis, even as he was being insulted and threatened.
As a country music fan, as someone who respects the right to privacy of individuals, you have every right to be enraged at the release of this video by enterprising media outlets looking to benefit financially from the public shame of Randy Travis. However, everyone should understand why it is imperative why such material remain accessible to the public.
Often in country music, incidents like the Randy Travis arrest ultimately don’t endanger the legacies of these performers. They become the stuff of legend, as illustrated quite literally by the recent animated series Tales From the Tour Bus from executive producer Mike Judge that recently aired on Cinemax. Of course, this isn’t comforting to the Randy Travis camp at the moment, but the public perception of Randy Travis will be just fine. However that doesn’t make the fact that so many will attempt to profiteer off his unfortunate and temporary fall from grace any less shameful.
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The publicist for Randy Travis has released the following statement:
Randy’s behavior was extremely altered the evening of his arrest due to the state of his mental health, and substances in his body, causing him to do and say things that were entirely out of character. He suffered a severe concussion and sustained numerous other injuries from the crash.
Notwithstanding the release of the tape, Randy and his team will have their day in court regarding the ongoing lawsuit against the State of Texas in relation to the violation of his civil rights.
Randy Travis is well-known to be a loving, caring person who is respectful of everyone, a video that shows anything otherwise only underscores that he was absolutely not himself. Randy is deeply apologetic for his actions that evening. A man of integrity with a good heart, Randy does not and will never condone these types of actions that distort the true beliefs of Randy Travis and his entire family.
South of I-10
December 4, 2017 @ 9:21 pm
Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. The man hasn’t been well, and is recently making progress. I wish people were better than this. Releasing this isn’t going to help anyone. It’s certainly not “news” after 5 years. Thank you Trigger for not posting the video. What’s even worse than the media’s craving of such material is that there are people out there that want to see it. My only comfort in this is I have lived long enough to learn that karma (call it what you like) exists. Those who are on the wrong end of this will get theirs. Nothing informative, entertaining or funny about seeing someone at their worst. There are plenty of other videos of R.T. to see, Forever and Ever Amen changed the world I live in. My family loves country music, and we love Randy Travis.
Oregon Outlaw
December 4, 2017 @ 9:35 pm
Good post. I agree that nothing can take away his deserved country music fame, but he was driving drunk and potentially endangering others – this does somewhat lower his respectability and class for me personally.
Still, reconciling an artist’s personal actions with their music you may admire isn’t always necessary or even advisable. Let the music speak for itself – “1982” is a legendary pure country song and this incident doesn’t change my mind about that. I’m gonna listen to it right now.
Scotty J
December 4, 2017 @ 10:12 pm
I would wager that if one were to only support the truly morally upright performers the list would be astonishingly small. Hank, Willie, Waylon, Cash, Jones and many, many more have well documented cases of behavior arguably worse than this. It’s very hard for me to judge people I don’t know nor lives I haven’t lived for things short of violence.
Aggc
December 4, 2017 @ 10:00 pm
My life is pretty good. I have no reason to fixate on the shortcomings of others just to validate my own existence. I like the music Randy Travis has produced. Thats all i need to know about him.
Jtrpdx
December 4, 2017 @ 10:12 pm
The good news for Travis is that the general public has such a short attention span these days and is so inundated with media from all directions, that this will be forgotten about in a few days.
NE Country Music Fan
December 4, 2017 @ 10:17 pm
This is the best thing I’ve ever read here. If there is justice in the world, this will go viral.
Ulysses McCaskill
December 5, 2017 @ 12:47 am
Heck of an article Trigger.
Seak05
December 5, 2017 @ 4:09 am
You can only be pissed at media publishing this if you’re also pissed every other time arrest footage is released. If you were pissed for Reese Witherspoon & Mel Gibson & Tiger Woods & player from opposing NFL team.
I’m just thankful that no one was injured. I don’t generally turn whose music I like into a morality play (& wont in this case), but stop excusing bad behavior. Randy put other people’s lives at risk that night, this isn’t something you joke about.
Charlie
December 5, 2017 @ 5:24 am
I didn’t watch any beheading videos, and I won’t watch this one either.
Reese Witherspoon & Mel Gibson & Tiger Woods? . . . nope. Didn’t watch them either.
TMI
I’m doin’ fine takin’ care of ol’ Charlie.
Chris
December 5, 2017 @ 5:27 am
This is sad.
I had completely forgotten about the incident.
Why is Randy suing law enforcement for violating his civil rights?
I am certainly crazy about Randy and his music.
As a recovering alcoholic, I understand that alcohol (or drugs) can seriously alter the kind of person you are and result in some downright embarrassing moments.
Eduardo Vargas
December 5, 2017 @ 6:32 am
TMZ is one of the worst media outlets out there who simply lives on destroying celebrities for the sake of it-
Randy should be left alone. The man had a stroke for Pete sake, and has been trouble recovering for a while. It’s one of the most absurdly disrespectful thing this filthy side of the media has done.
We all make our mistakes in life man, but it doesn’t mean that those mistakes deserve to become public scrutiny- we’ve never walked on their shoes, known how that person lived, or even have a right to judge them.
I’ll always know Randy Travis for being one of the greatest country singers ever- One of the best storytellers the genre and music has seen, with such immortal songs like “Forever and Ever Amen” “Heroes and Friends” and “ Three Wooden Crosses”.
And that is all in the end that truly matters.
DJ
December 5, 2017 @ 6:57 am
Excellent write up Trigger!
That said, TMZ is trash. I’ve never watched it but I’ve seen their ads and I find it disturbing a grown man can act the way that idiot leading that show acts. They are no more interested in their rights as journalist than my cat is. All they’re interested in is attention. Another of those bad publicity is better than no publicity outfits.
Corncaster
December 5, 2017 @ 7:21 am
“Profiteer”? It’s already up on YouTube.
Wes
December 5, 2017 @ 7:27 am
Randy has done this to himself and he deserves to be put down for his behavior. He never dealt with his alcoholism and honestly everyone deserves to see this and get to look at the real side of their “hero”. Never meet your idols.
Marc
December 5, 2017 @ 8:15 am
Well then, go ahead and put him down.
Miki Allison-Shropshire
December 6, 2017 @ 11:22 am
Those who have not sinned, cast the first stone.
Corncaster
December 5, 2017 @ 7:47 am
I don’t understand pearl-clutching. What we see in media is a combination of careful image-making and our own need to believe. Everybody has a good and bad side, and some people reach higher and lower than others. But “Forever and Ever, Amen” and many other songs Randy sang will always be great songs that he sang well.
I laughed and shook my head when I watched the video, much like the police officer in the car. We’re a sorry lot, and we should care for each other as best we can.
Marc
December 5, 2017 @ 7:56 am
I would say many if not most of us who drank at one time have done or said stupid things. Luckily for us we are not famous or was it caught on video. Had Randy been healthy today I would watch the video and laugh, mock, be pissed for putting others at risk like I did with Gibson and Reese. With his condition as it is I have no need or do I care to watch as this video is nothing compared to what he is going through. Will this change my mind about him, no because he didn’t hurt anybody only himself. Still in my top 3 of country singers he, Jones and Whitley.
Whiskey_Pete
December 5, 2017 @ 10:06 am
I’ve got stories..
Gina
December 5, 2017 @ 11:25 am
All I can say is that I’m glad I’m not remotely famous these days. The press eats this stuff up with a spoon and it never goes away, thanks to the internet. I really don’t see what is to be gained and I won’t be watching it. We all have a side we don’t want everyone to see, and anyone who says they don’t is kidding themselves. I still love Randy’s music and I think this is sad more than anything. Scary times we’re living in.
Them Dawgs Is Hell Don't They
December 5, 2017 @ 12:13 pm
I once ate half a bag of dog food for $2 whilst on the ‘Jack…shit happens
Marc
December 5, 2017 @ 6:08 pm
Jack invited me to sing karaoke in my undies at a sports bar…#86’dforlife
Mike W.
December 5, 2017 @ 8:31 pm
My take is similar to Triggers (at least in spirit). The media should and does have the right to publish this. It is on each individual to determine if this is something they wish to watch or not. Me, personally, I won’t watch this video. Travis was clearly battling long-standing demons during this time period in his life and I don’t see what good can come out me watching this.
That being said, at a time in this country when certain sections of American society wish to clamp down on freedom of the press for their own benefit, I’m not going to jump on that misguided train. Even if it involves a rumor rag like TMZ.
Gar
December 11, 2017 @ 9:20 pm
I can’t tell if your implying that conservatives or liberals are the ones trying to clamp down on freedom of press
Miki Allison-Shropshire
December 6, 2017 @ 11:20 am
We all have physical and mental health issues. Most of us are on a journey to be better. It is a shame the media is putting Mr. Travis’ health issues in a more dire condition by releasing this video. Leave Mr. Travis alone!
Blackwater
December 6, 2017 @ 10:58 pm
‘muhrica
Woogeroo
December 12, 2017 @ 4:48 am
Everyone has 3 or 5 worst moments in their lives… imagine if just one of them was caught on film for everyone to gawk at.
Everyone messes up…
Gerry Cummings
January 15, 2024 @ 2:05 pm
Well, years ago, they glamorized the country outlaws like Waylon, Willie, Hank Sr., Hank Jr., Johnny Ca$h, and now Randy Travis, a human being , is a mouthy drunk. Who cares, he writes good tunes.