Not one to shy away from a controversial outburst or two, Jesse Hughes has officially pushed fans over the edge after a number of now-deleted Instagram posts made it very clear he was not OK with the student-led anti-gun violence protests taking part across the US recently.
The vitriol spouting from Hughes’s fingertips only lasted a short while before he removed the insensitive Instagram posts, but the damage was done.
Jesse Hughes is TRASH pic.twitter.com/QlVpMNiA4n
— KO (@katiealiceolsen) March 26, 2018
Hughes not only posted a doctored picture of survivor Emma González tearing up the US constitution (it was actually a shooting target), but had some scathing remarks about González and the other young activists trying to protect themselves from being killed at school.
The reaction was understandably that of disgust.
@jesseEODM "And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through"
-David Bowie.
How dare you spit on those children Jesse? You disgust me.— Kati (@Metallikati) March 26, 2018
While referencing González, Hughes wrote:
“Behold……the Awful Face Of Treason…..survivor of Nothing….Lover of Treason…..enjoy your little moment…..it’s about to End…… #stupidity #hatersofliberty #loversofsatan #borntolose #2ndamendment”
He then focused his attention to the thousands of teens across America trying to instigate change within a government that has done everything but actually prevent gun violence in schools across the country.
“And when the truth don’t line up with your bullshit narrative just hold your breath and stamp your feet and refused to except it…. then take multiple days off of school playing hooky at the expense of 16 of your classmates blood….!…. it might be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic and disgusting……”
Of course this didn’t go down well with Hughes’s fans, who were justifiably upset by his blatant attacks on the teenagers who are simply defending their right to go to school without the fear of dying because no one else will.
HOLY FUCK. This is where me and Eagles of Death Metal finally, totally part ways. Fuck you, Jesse Hughes, fuuuuck you. You went through hell in Paris, yet still posit ridiculous arguments and insult scared, brave children. Disgusting. Read/see: https://t.co/PbOLgIdA0X
— Backstage Rider ? (@BackstageRider) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/marklanegan/status/978372044659109888
Oh look. Another middle-aged white guy scared at positive change for the majority of other people. Yawn. #JesseHughes #March4OurLives
— The Political Diva (@GrainneGillis) March 26, 2018
The pictures posted by Hughes were deliberately antagonising, with one image in particular comparing the efforts of gun regulation to a man cutting off his penis to prevent rape.
Hughes – himself a survivor of a mass shooting – should know better.
After terrorists stormed the Bataclan theatre in Paris in 2015 during an EODM show, Hughes made it out alive, but 89 concert-goers did not.
Hughes has since turned the fact that he is a survivor of a mass shooting into a dangerous platform that apparently gives gravitas to his sickening statements and claims.
“As the survivor of a mass shooting I can tell you from first-hand experience that all of you protesting and taking days off from school insult the memory of those who were killed and abuse and insult me and every other lover of liberty by your every action. Long Live Rock’n’Roll….. and may everyone of these disgusting vile abusers of the dead live as long as possible so they can have the maximum amount of time to endure their shame….and be Cursed….”
Actually Hughes? No.
As a survivor you should know better. It’s not about one experience trumping another.
You should know that your experience doesn’t give you the right to judge or criticise the experience of someone else – especially teenagers who have just watched their friends die, and are worried they will be met with the same fate.
These are children that are sick of feeling helpless in a world that is doing nothing to ensure their safety, instead actively contributing to making the situation worse.
Just because you survived the Bataclan doesn’t mean these kids don’t get to have their own opinions around their own mass shooting experience.
If you were free to peddle your theories post Bataclan, why can’t these teenagers be shown the same respect when trying to do their part in reducing deaths caused by gun violence in their own classrooms?
@Emma4Change is embraced by her parents after giving her speech at #MarchForOurLives. Let’s not forget that she’s a child! To the scum that troll her, F-U.
Baby girl, #TheResistance has your back. pic.twitter.com/KfcZnzvfEg— Justice Seeker ☮️ (@tizzywoman) March 27, 2018
This situation isn’t the first time we’ve seen Hughes make controversial remarks about gun control.
After the attack at the Bataclan, he not only suggested it was an “inside” job, but was also hyper critical of the strict gun laws in France that in his mind, made the problem worse.
Hughes eventually issued an apology, saying he wasn’t coping with the events of that day.
“The shame is 100% mine. I’ve been dealing with non-stop nightmares and struggling through therapy to make sense of this tragedy and insanity. I haven’t been myself since November 13. I realize there’s no excuse for my words, but for what it’s worth: I am sincerely sorry for having hurt, disrespected or accused anyone.”
Clearly Hughes is still struggling and dealing with the aftermath of the Bataclan attack, but it doesn’t make it OK for him or anyone else to go out of their way to attack these teenagers, or use the situation to push their own agenda on gun control.
It’s ignorant, dangerous, and perpetuates the idea that it’s OK to ignore, mock, or invalidate the experience of another person.