SHOCKING SCENE: Country Singer Bryan Martin Dragged Off Stage by Police — Later Admits, “Truth Is I’m Not Okay”
The crowd came to hear the songs. Instead, they witnessed a breakdown.
On Friday night at the Schaghticoke Fair in upstate New York, country singer Bryan Martin was dragged off stage by police after a chaotic performance that left fans stunned and silent. What was supposed to be a night of hits like “We Ride” and “Memory to Drown” unraveled into a public collapse — one that ended with officers hauling Martin away as cameras rolled and social media exploded.
From Concert to Chaos
According to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, Martin showed “signs of intoxication and erratic behavior” during his set and refused to leave when asked. Deputies stepped in, and when Martin resisted, they carried him offstage. Sheriff Kyle Bourgault later said officers handled it “professionally and without injury,” but admitted the bigger battle was not against law enforcement. It was against Martin’s own demons.
The Raw Confession
Just hours later, Martin broke his silence with an Instagram post that cut straight to the truth: “Sorry I let y’all down tonight… truth is I’m not ok.”
He admitted the road has been wearing him thin, the distance from his kids weighs heavily, and he’s been leaning on alcohol too much. “I’m not ever proud when I reach for another drink… hope y’all can forgive me and believe in a broken old soul like me.”
It wasn’t an excuse. It was a confession — one fans weren’t used to hearing from a stage but had always felt in his songs.
A Lifetime of Scars
Martin’s music has never hidden his pain. His 2019 debut album If It Was Easy chronicled his struggles with addiction, depression, and even a suicide attempt as a teenager. Friday night only made it clear that those scars are still fresh. Fans expecting a rowdy, cathartic show instead saw the reality: a man cracking under the weight of his battles.
The next morning, Martin tried to lighten the blow by sharing a screenshot of the news with the caption, “Well not the highlight of my life… but momma we made it on Whiskey Riff.” Beneath the sarcasm was regret — he admitted he didn’t remember much of the night and even lost his signature Rattlesnake Hatband and necklace in the chaos.
Fans Rally, Sheriff Speaks
The Sheriff called addiction “a disease that requires both accountability and empathy.” And fans echoed that sentiment in the comments, urging Martin to get help, to rest, and to come back stronger. Many reminded him that his honesty — singing about being broken because he is broken — was what drew them to him in the first place.
A Turning Point or a Warning?
One thing is certain: this was not the show anyone expected. It was raw. It was ugly. It was unforgettable. And for Bryan Martin, it was a crossroads.
The fight ahead isn’t about ticket sales or chart positions. It’s about survival. If he can take this disaster and turn it into a turning point, maybe one day he’ll step back on stage and tell the story of this night — not as a collapse, but as the moment he chose to fight for himself.
For now, fans are left with an image they won’t forget: a country singer carried off stage, battling the weight of his own truth.
