Ronnie Radke, the often controversial lead singer of the popular alternative metal band Falling In Reverse, has criticized a coordinated effort aimed at tarnishing his reputation and that of his band. In a video shared online on June 19th, Radke revealed that someone has been contacting various music festivals and bands with bookings alongside Falling In Reverse, accusing them of endorsing anti-trans and anti-LGBT sentiments by association.
The emails sent to these parties mention unspecified instances where Radke is accused of bigotry. They also highlight his recent donation of all profits from a controversial ‘Pander Express‘ shirt to Gays Against Groomers, a right-wing group known for opposing what they see as the sexualization, indoctrination, and medicalization of minors under the banner of LGBTQIA+ rights. This organization is viewed divisively by those on the left.
In response, Radke said about the campaign via a new video:
“Every single band on planet earth could agree with this email and it would not change the fact that I would literally stand my ground. I don’t care. The entire world has already been against me for 18 years. I don’t care. That’s what it feels like — I know they haven’t — but that’s what it feels like sometimes. I’m gonna stand my ground. You’re not gonna literally force me into being homophobic. You know what I mean?
Like you guys say that I’m homophobic so much that you try to make it… it’s like almost gaslighting me into into believing that I’m actually [homophobic], ‘well, maybe I am.’ I’m not. I’m not homophobic, transphobic, you idiot.”
Radke continued, after hinting that he’s apparently uncovered the identity of who’s behind the campaign:
“Every single band, every festival could kick me off. I don’t care. I don’t fucking care. Fuck all of y’all, I’ll play by myself. Guess what would happen? I would assume what would happen if all that happened, if everybody stopped playing with me, what happened to Target, and what happened to Budweiser and what happened to Planet Fitness. Fuck you. Oh, man, everybody agrees that I’m a bigot. So guess what? I guess I’ll do a tour by myself.”
Radke then read memes of Falling In Reverse adding:
“I will literally play by myself in a dirty parking lot before I ever literally succumb to the pressure of these fucking idiots. Because the second you do that, you turn into Budweiser, Target and Planet Fitness. Your stock goes down. Everybody sees you for weak. It’s stupid. You’re not gonna force me into being a bigot. I’m not a bigot. I know who I am. I’ve been doing this for a long time.
I’ve put gay people in my music videos to stand in solidarity, even trans in my videos. And even before that, even before all of this popularity trend contest with who could be more trans, I’ve been doing this for so long. You guys are just too young, and you don’t ever remember what I’ve done for this community.
You’re not gonna you’re not gonna force me to, like, literally, bow to anybody that tries to fuck with children. I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you are. I don’t care what you’re doing. If a kid’s not old enough to drink at 21, [then a] kids not old enough to decide their gender at five-years-old. Fuck you. That’s where I stand.
And if I have to fuck a dude to prove that I’m not homophobic, I will. can you imagine? Just like, ‘hey guys, look, I fucked a dude. Am I welcome? Can you guys play with me still please?’ You can email literally everyone in the world and I and I promise you, the people that actually like me, do not give a fuck about you, because they know who I am as a person.
You’re not gonna force people into… anybody that believes this email is fucking stupid as shit. You deserve whatever is coming to, you know what I mean, you guys are stupid. So, have a nice fucking day. Go fuck yourself.”
Although Radke has been almost banned from social media networks for controversial statements regarding trans identity in the past, his most recent video for “All My Life” starred transgender political commentator Blaire White in a pretty significant role.
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