Punk Rockers NOFX Apologize After Making ‘Insensitive’ Jokes About Las Vegas Shooting
The lead singer of punk rock band NOFX has issued an apology following a joke he made about the mass shooting that took place at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in October 2017. Michael John "Fat Mike" Burkett of NOFX admits that he hasn't been able to sleep following his remarks during a show in Las Vegas, Nev., on Sunday (May 27). The singer says he and the band are "embarrassed by our remarks."
“I can’t sleep, no one in my band can," he tells the Blast. "What we said in Vegas was sh--ty and insensitive and we are all embarrassed by our remarks."
Burkett says he and his bandmates will be releasing an “in-depth, sincere and honest apology,” adding, “That’s what the people we offended and hurt deserve.”
The L.A. punk rock group performed at the Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival in Vegas, and in a video obtained by TMZ, after they finished a song Burkett remarked, "We played a song about Muslims and we didn't get shot. Hooray." Another band member added, "I guess you only get shot in Vegas if you are in a country band," to which Burkett replied, "That [the massacre] sucked, but at least they were country fans and not punk rock fans."
The band found themselves in the midst of a social media firestorm after their remarks went viral. Their insensitive remarks have cost them an appearance at this weekend's Camp Punk In Drublic Festival in Ohio. Festival organizers shared on Facebook that NOFX and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (featuring Fat Mike) will not be performing at the festival at Legend Valley near Columbus, Ohio.
"While NOFX is known for their dark, uncomfortable humor, the festival producers of Camp Punk In Drublic are shocked and disappointed by the band’s recent statements about the Route 91 Harvest Festival victims and country music fans," the festival writes. "These statements do not reflect the feelings or views of the Camp Punk In Drublic festival, its staff, and its sponsors. The festival producers support fans of all music genres and take safety very seriously at all of their events. Out of respect for Route 91 Harvest Festival victims and their families, Camp Punk In Drublic will make a donation to a fund benefiting those affected by the 2017 tragedy."
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