NOFX Slammed For 'Disgusting' Las Vegas Shooting Joke: 'At Least They Were Country Fans'
Watch the footage.
NOFX have been slammed for making a "disgusting and callous" joke during their show in Las Vegas on Sunday night, regarding the city's mass shooting incident last year which claimed 59 lives.
As reported by TMZ, the US punk band were performing at Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival when frontman Fat Mike said at the conclusion of a song, "We played a song about Muslims and we didn’t get shot".
Guitarist Eric Melvin then said, "I guess you only get shot in Vegas if you are in a country band", to which Fat Mike responded, "That sucked, but at least they were country fans and not punk rock fans".
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
Watch the footage below.
NOFX thought it would be "hilarious" to joke about the October 1 shootings while on stage in Las Vegas. They said "at least they were country fans and not punk rock fans". This is disgusting and callous. We will never support anything involving this band ever again. pic.twitter.com/am3R8QJIE6
— Dave and Mahoney (@DaveAndMahoney) May 30, 2018
The exchange has been widely slammed, with many calling for NOFX to not only be banned from gigs in Las Vegas, but also any future music events.
Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival founders, Mark and Shawn Stern, also issued an apology to festivalgoers.
UPDATE:
Stone Brewing, the company that manufactures NOFX's beer and sponsors their music festival, Punk In Drublic, have cut all ties with the band and axed their beer line following their comments at the Las Vegas gig.
"We at Stone Brewing are aware of NOFX’s insensitive and indefensible statements this past weekend," Stone Brewing said in a statement to The Blast.
"As a result, we are severing all our ties with NOFX, including festival sponsorship and the production of our collaboration beer.
"We respect punk rock, and the DIY ethos for which it stands. To us, it means standing up for things you believe in, and fearlessly committing to what’s right. And it is for that reason that Stone Brewing is immediately disassociating ourselves from the band NOFX.
"Stone had a sponsorship deal for this summer’s Punk In Drublic festivals. Emphasis ‘had.’ That sponsorship is now cancelled.
"Nevertheless, to try our best to make some good come out of these awful comments, we have decided that we will donate all profits of the beer to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation, which provides post Route 91 trauma counseling for officers and other first responders alongside other safety programs, training and funding.
"We have cancelled any future rebrews of this beer. We apologize to the fans of the beer itself, but know that we make this decision out of respect to all. Punk rock is cool. These callous comments were the furthest thing from it."
— Punk Rock Bowling (@PunkRockBowling) May 30, 2018
Fuck @NOFXband. SO punk rock of them. They have the right to say whatever they want; but, #Vegas has the right to make sure #NOFX is never welcome there again. #KickRocks #Route91 https://t.co/uhocbfIsKz
— Chris Kael (@5FDPChrisKael) May 30, 2018
You figure there’s like, what, one rule about playing in Vegas? Don’t joke about the shooting and not be a d-bag? Unreal. I’ve lost so much respect for him for that
— Long Island's Capo (@JeffreyKleiman) May 30, 2018
Dear #NOFX you're not funny and until you've had to run for your life while being shot at for ten minutes, you have no right to utter a single word about that night! Please don't return to Vegas.
— Andrea (@drea1439) May 30, 2018
I’ve been a fan of @FatMike_of_NOFX and his band since I was a kid. His comment about the Vegas shooting makes me sick. Fuck you. You just lost tons of fans. #pieceofshit
— Tim Wishart (@ShaolinShogun) May 30, 2018
More From Our Network
