It appears Bilmuri have welcomed guitarist Reese Maslen back into the fold months after his departure, though the move has already drawn criticism online due to prior allegations made against him in late 2025.
Maslen’s return follows accusations of racism, misogyny and related misconduct that were publicly leveled by a former partner in December of last year. Those claims sparked backlash at the time and led to his exit from the project.
On April 17, Maslen confirmed he had rejoined the band, sharing a statement on social media about the unexpected call to return.
“Since stepping down from Bilmuri last December, I’ve been doing the work to be better for myself and everyone around me.
I assumed I would not be asked to rejoin the band, so I acted and spoke publicly as such.
On Sunday, I was laying in bed when I got a call from Johnny; I’m coming back for the Kinda Hard tour.
See you 2nite Denver.”
The mention of Johnny appears to reference Bilmuri mastermind Johnny Franck, who has yet to publicly comment on the decision as of now.
Maslen’s return is likely to divide fans, with some welcoming the reinstatement while others continue to raise concerns over the unresolved controversy surrounding his departure.
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That’s cuz he didn’t do anything. Just some ex girlfriend who is butter that he wouldn’t get back with her so she is making up allegations to ruin his career
AJ Strickland I mean, there are pictures and text chains. She’s not making it up, but the severity of the issue could definitely be in question for some.
AJ Strickland is that why he admitted to it? Huh, crazy
AJ Strickland he admitted to it. He was also being racist. It’s not something that should be swept under the rug.
AJ Strickland 💯
AJ Strickland that’s the majority of all allegations nowadays and you would think it wouldn’t happen as much after the whole amber turd vs Johnny Depp a few years back.
AJ Strickland he literally admitted to wrong doing you fuckwad.
99% of Bilmuri fans want no one other than Reese on guitar for Bilmuri.
Lucas Collier 99.9%
Michael Driskell do I make it %100?
Jordan Smith only if you’re cranking
Lucas Collier always
Michael Driskell love this fanbase
Lucas Collier Not to mention his screams live, he is an integral part of the band.
Lucas Collier he’s SO good live – so glad he’s back
Britany Hernandez
Ethan Hernandez it sounds like they’re letting it slide that he let his fame n ego get to him.
That’s what it seems like
Ethan Hernandez in reality he bad mouthed a girl, and used his hands name to do it.
Britany Hernandez what a stupid reason to get kicked from a band.
Matt McGarvin im not saying I support him I’m just saying that he really didn’t do anything to be kicked out. I feel like they might keep him on a tight strings 😂so to speak.
This was amazing news
What even happened originally?
Michael Heidecker Asian ex girlfriend was mad he likes Asian girls, and said he was racist for it. She posted private relationship squabbles that make them both look immature and petty.
Joel Davis well that’s pretty stupid. Not a bilmuri fan but he shouldn’t have had his livelihood thrown away for something so dumb
Joel Davis the accusations were a bit more serious than “squabbles,” but they were just that, accusations.
I would hope that if she had proof he did any of the shit she said he did, she would pursue actual legal action, but seems like the story died off literally 3 days after she posted shit on IG.
She said he threatened her if she didnt terminate a pregnancy, used discriminating words towards her and other races, among other accusations.
This is the best news in a while . He didn’t need to leave . Reese belongs in Bilmuri!!!! 🖤
Brings back racist guitarist would be a better headline.
Seth Harrington what did he do or say that deems him racist? Genuinely asking, no sarcasm from me.
Aaron Krug https://www.metalsucks.net/2025/12/31/abuse-allegations-force-bilmuri-touring-guitarist-reese-maslen-to-step-down/
Aaron Krug he’s said a lot tbh he had an Asian gf said racist things about her and to her online. She had a miscarriage as well And was rude about that and called it gross . For wanting to give a proper burial. Like genuinely I hope someone has the sense to deal with this if they see him in person…trash human.
Seth Harrington damn I didnt know all that. Thanks for telling me!
Seth HarringtonMedia: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia3.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2Fv1.Y2lkPTEyMGMwMTQ3YXJmNm93YXpzaDF6eHp6bTBmbzJ2bWt2cGViampkZW05YW5yOWJwNSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n%2FxT1XGESDlxj0GwoDRe%2Fgiphy.gif&h=AT5PSCnFC3opTDuFqednUYb6OU9gs_AWJBxqq2zeqgoKam_NuzdsR1yZQU4YpYVGlh-ZfhrFPTeiN541Hm2GnT1iAN9R6asU_I_rUNSNjdFbPgEMlVT3J_zVWaYCR568&s=1
Dalton Cox nah. More like trash eradication. That’s what they all deserve. Cry about it.Media: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10239591681826651&set=p.10239591681826651&type=3
Seth Harrington shouldn’t you be busy closing a fridge with your hips or something?
Seth HarringtonMedia: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia1.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2Fv1.Y2lkPTEyMGMwMTQ3Mmd6MTdzd2R0Z3BqYmMzNmhwbzJhNjJ6NmVkd3h3bjdzNjNiaXNxMyZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n%2FxQ9VZ56Ujvb9ujPtPN%2Fgiphy.gif&h=AT4Kx3dor52C2WM0OixnpRF0qdn9Z532ugF0XchdzX8vRpR3inO4wHGC1GAaaTwk4z0LE-ogJCrGYGNzaAZiC70I4V7RzA3K8sHm_Ip6HulUFVrfN72snLE0lUBLycEq&s=1
Rick Smith nah, you.Media: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10239591687226786&set=p.10239591687226786&type=3
I don’t know anything about the situation, but as an outsider looking in, it’s kindly to do this other people have been fired and let go for less whether there’s proof or not but it’s just a bad look on their part
Jonathan Musgrovebegone.
Michael Morris No?
Jonathan Musgrove If you dont know anything about the situation then how do you know others have been let go for less? How do you know whats less or more if you dont even know what this is?
Never should have left the band in the first place.
It was a classic case of jealous ex girlfriend. So happy Reese is back!!!!
Fuck them hoes! Cancel culture fails again!
Controversy sells and the sites are trying to sell it hard. I’ve seen little to no criticism. Since the beginning of this most everyone loves Reese and wants him back with Bilmuri. Can’t wait to see them on Sunday ❤️
Craig Wood same with Metal Injection. Rage baiting for internet clout 😂
Reese deserves to be on this tour!! I for one was extremely happy when I heard.
MacKenzie Banister I think every actual fan was
I like bilmuri for Johnny Franck thats it so whatever
Reese!Reese!Reese!
Spencer Brockhouse first thing I said when I saw the videos of him opening up
good.
There was no controversy. It was an ex who was butt hurt and wanted to cancel him.
Sean Thompson And so he admitted to it. Classic good guy stance.
Get in!!!!
The only reason it’s controversial is all the “news” outlets looking for a story
Idk what to think. From the sounds of it he was pretty unhinged. Idk if six months is enough time to find your center. I’m glad I’m too poor to go to a show, so I don’t have to be a part of the controversy in any way.
Jason Nicholas you should probably not even comment on this matter since you don’t want to be “involved”with it, dumbass.
Rick Smith Mmm. You angry over a little speculation?
Jason Nicholas dude said he wanted to cute a hole into a baby to fuck. massive weirdo lol
Nick Vellender Who said that?
Jason Nicholas reese
Nick Vellender What a disgusting thing to say. That’s Lostprophets level of weird and reprehensible.
Jason Nicholas you know this loser is a liberal lmfao. Speaking out of his ass without knowing ANYTHING about thr accusations and text. This is pure comedy 😂😂
Jason Nicholas going to a show makes you part of the controversy? You gonna date him or something?
Nick Harperno, just rather not feel like I have loose morals by supporting someone who is morally reprehensible. Nice projection though.
This definitely tarnishes the bands image. Saying crazy stuff and being racist is hard to excuse.
Mikey Yadenplease say sike
Michael Morris No sike.
Mikey Yaden yikes, you’re just retarded then.
Michael Morris because I don’t support a racist and an abuser?
Way to go. Sick of these “cancels” over something that could be resolved over basic conflict management. But people love attention…and any musician calling for his cancel is just another band dude who is 25-35 that can’t draw more than 12 people to a dive bar on a Saturday. The projection is just insane.
Wow so controversial. Every single comment is positive lmao. Stop sewing controversy.
the dude that said he wants to cut a hole into a baby to fuck it 😂😂 nice
Nick Vellender Nick u sir have the best comments. How much is rent?
Awesome news
There’s no controversy.
There’s been no controversy about the return, no matter how badly you media people want there to be. Credibility loss
Hell yes!!!!
REESE REEESE REEEEEESE
Reese is the fuckin man and if you think otherwise you should be kicked in the nuts over and over until you puke blood
Good, Reese fucking rules. His “controversy” was literally private drunk meme spam texting his ex who lit him up publicly to get back at him. Dude owned up to it, said he made life changes and now he’s back. This whole kick people out of bands without a second chance is lame AF
Reese Reese Reese!
I remember reading his exs story and was like people are cancelling him because he was a bad bf?
Jay-r Preedom thats exactly what cancel culture does. Very nazi-esque tactic.
Jay-r Preedom pretty sure the flagrant racism didn’t help his case.
Vish Fish what happened?
100% agree with this
Everyone deserves to grow from their mistakes, or else wtf are we doing as humans?
I would really hope that someone wouldn’t judge my character today based off of my mistakes when I was 18 for example.
Shawn Graves ” mistakes” he meant it and im completely okay with that fact.
Shawn Graves sadly that’s all the Internet does.
“Ongoing controversy”
There wasn’t a controversy lmao
Garrett Drake The Allegations (December 2025): Maslen’s former partner, Celina Coma, publicly accused him of emotional abuse, psychological manipulation, racism, and misogyny.
Specific Claims: The allegations included claims of threatening suicide to manipulate her, using racist slurs, and being callous regarding a miscarriage.
Initial Exit: Shortly after the allegations were published, Reese Maslen stepped down from Bilmuri in December 2025, stating he “exhibited behavior… that I deeply regret” and promised to take time to work on himself.
Return to Band (April 2026): In April 2026, Maslen announced his return to Bilmuri for the “Kinda Hard” tour, stating he had been “doing the work to be better” and was brought back by bandleader Johnny Franck.
Controversy: The quick return of Maslen caused significant debate within the fan base, with some calling for accountability and expressing discomfort, while others felt the situation was personal and not relevant to the band.
Bilmuri’s Stance: Johnny Franck, the founder and main songwriter of Bilmuri, did not issue an official public statement regarding the accusations or the re-hiring of Maslen, leading some fans to discuss the incident on community forums
Joshua Layne the “allegations” are “he was a shitty boyfriend”. Literally has no bearing on his career.
Garrett Drake tell his fan base that lol the short reading I’ve done in fan’s comment threads while looking into it doesn’t look like it has no bearing on his career. He left the band in the first place bc of it, apparently so it had some kind of effect. Look idc either way man, just giving info. Idek the guy, I only started listening to Bilmuri bc I’m a Johnny fan from AA days
Joshua Layne you copy/pasted information i was already aware of. It does not change anything for me lol
Garrett Drake do you know what controversy is? Because if you were aware of these things(I wasn’t aware this dude was like this), then you would know it was definitely a controversy that resulted in dude actually leaving the band and admitting he was shitty, also actually affecting his career(his career being the band. That he left) so we could have just avoided the whole thing if you knew what the definition of “controversy” was. I copy and pasted because I’m not gonna paraphrase information. Doesn’t change the fact it’s apparently true either. My second comment was all me tho, and that doesn’t change anything either lol for you, me, or this guy. Have a good day buddy
Garrett Drake not saying anything is true or untrue but that sounds pretty messy fr
I love how every gd page or post is trying to be against him. Literally
Stop covering nothing. This shit was so stupid. He stepped away for something that shouldn’t have been anything. Literally his ex was mad he was doing better than she was. This whole thing was so dumb.
Ongoing? Let it go fr
LFG Reese!
His Ex was a piece of work… Reese deserves a welcome back hug.
‘Controversy’ 😆 unhinged ex tries to screw ex boyfriend over.
the only controversy is the fact people listen to this garbage
There is no controversy. Media just needs a story so they fabricate this nonsense that the fans are split. None of us ever bought into the high school drama turned cancel culture. I’m stoked that I get to see them with Reese this weekend.
Bring em back we all need a little grace some times. He shreds.
I love reading all the comments and its just everyone supporting Reese 🤘
Chantee Burleson which is really sad because he admitted to what was in those texts and was being insanely racist.
But the Metal community is full of retards so it’s not too surprising theyre standing up for Reese yet would cancel someone else for doing the same things he did and said
Now bring back the drummer
New drummer is great too but Xavier was on a different level than most of us.
Hes a shitty human being in general which is beyond obvious. But nobody should be canceled over words. With thay said im selling my ticket for atl georgia if anybody is curious
I seen the text he made about his kid. And im good on supporting this band anymore than I have. Hmu if your interested
Bilmuri fans weren’t ever upset
His ex airing out their dirty laundry is a pos move on her part. She tried to get him cancelled and thankfully it didn’t work.
I’m still looking for the controversy. Have not found ANYONE upset with this news yet. Please stop writing ragebait/misleading headlines
#welcomebackReese 👊
“Ongoing controversy” 🙄
lol who is paying all these sites to run the fake ass headlines.
Can yall stop with the “ongoing” controversy shit? It was a “controversy” for all of 3 days. She said her piece, Reese apologized and stepped down and went and got help. We have to allow people the chance to correct past wrongs. None of us are perfect. None of us.
Scott McDaniel THIS
So many little outlets trying to make this a story when it isn’t one 😂
Bilmuri fans have all welcomed him back with open arms.
Dessarae Macera Anthony Irvin