Trace Adkins took a lot of heat when he wore a Confederate flag earpiece while performing at a nationally-televised Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting special aired on NBC Wednesday night.

Adkins who is now entertaining troops as part of a Japan-based USO tour has issued this statement about the controversial ear piece:

“As a proud American I object to oppression of any kind. To me, the battle flag represents remembrance of my Southern lineage – I am a descendant of Confederate soldiers who followed that flag into battle.

“To those who view the flag as a symbol of racism, that was not my message and I did not intend offense.”