diff --git a/pytchat_listener.py b/pytchat_listener.py
index a94c893..b35059a 100644
--- a/pytchat_listener.py
+++ b/pytchat_listener.py
@@ -109,10 +109,11 @@ def main():
                 user_color = get_user_color(author_channel_id)
                 username_style = Style(color=user_color, bold=True)
 
-                # Create a Text object for the entire message
-                full_message_text = Text()
-                full_message_text.append(f"[{username_style}]{author_display_name}[/]: ")
-                full_message_text.append(message_text)
+                # Create a Text object for the username and apply style directly
+                username_text = Text(f"{username_style}]{author_display_name}: ", style=username_style)
+
+                # Create a Text object for the full message
+                full_message_text = Text.assemble(username_text, message_text)
 
                 # Alternate background styles
                 background_style = Style(bgcolor="#2B2B2B") if message_count % 2 == 0 else Style(bgcolor="#3A3A3A")
@@ -121,7 +122,6 @@ def main():
                 full_message_text.stylize(background_style)
 
                 # Print the message, letting rich handle wrapping and filling the width
-                # rich will automatically apply the background to wrapped lines if styled on the Text object
                 console.print(full_message_text, width=console.width, overflow="crop")
                 log_file.write(f"{datetime.now().strftime("%H:%M:%S")} {full_message_text.plain}\n")
                 message_count += 1
@@ -138,4 +138,4 @@ def main():
             console.print(f"[green]Chat log saved to {log_filename}[/green]")
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    main()
+    main()
\ No newline at end of file