Blackbraid syytti Midgardsblot Metalfestivalia rasistisesta kohtelusta: Pyytää nyt kommenttejaan sekä omaa käytöstään anteeksi

Yhdysvaltalainen black metal -yhtye Blackbraid esiintyi viime viikonloppuna Hortenissa, Norjassa järjestetyssä Midgardsblot-nimisessä metallifestivaalissa mutta bändin reissu ei sujunut tavanomaisissa merkeissä. Verkossa alkoi leviämään huhuja ja väitteitä, jonka mukaan yhtyeen laulaja Sgah’gahsowáh oli kokenut festivaalissa rasistista käytöstä ja olisi sen vuoksi poistettu festivaalista. Festivaalin järjestyksenvalvojat puolestaan kertoivat Sgah’gahsowáhin olleen festivaalissa erittäin päihtyneessä tilassa ja mm. sylkeneen järjestyksenvalvojien päälle, jonka vuoksi he päättivät yhtyeen poistaa festareilta.

Nyt Sgah’gahsowáh on julkaissut bändin sosiaalisessa mediassa virallisen lausunnon, jossa pyytää omaa käytöstään anteeksi ja kertoo huonon käytöksen johtuneen kohtelusta, jonka hän sai osakseen niin festivaalin vierailta kuin järjestyksenvalvojilta päivän aikana. Voit lukea kirjoituksen tästä:

“Regarding the situation at Midgardsblot last evening.

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Unfortunately there was some unfortunate miscommunication between the festival organizers at the security regarding the actions of one of our band members, whom momentarily laid down in a sitting area.

While the festival organizers of Midgardsblot were helpful in handling this situation peacefully at first, unfortunately the company handling the security re-escaled [SIC] the situation a couple of hours later in the evening and this is when the band was officially removed from the festival.

While were originally informed following the initial incident that we could overlook the situation and that the band was still welcome at MgB; this sentiment was seemingly not communicated to the security staff elsewhere in the festival.

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It was also at this time that the other native members of the group who were unaware of the situation were being told they need to leave by security as well. At multiple times yesterday, security was not able to the difference between the native band members, leading to further confusion and misunderstanding both sides.

While we have wanted to give the benefit of the doubt in terms of racism, we have unfortunately had continuous negative interactions with both the security and a handful of festival goers. The anger which negatively impacted our actions in the moment of this altercation was fueled by many different interactions which finally got a tipping point here.

The situation was handled poorly on all sides.

I apologize for my behavior in the situation, especially the spitting situation, and to the fans who have been upset by the situation, and to the festival staff who tried to handle the situation with security before it got out of hand. I was livid with the treatment we were receiving, and did not handle myself in a responsible way whatsoever. I let my anger get the best of me and my actions were out of line. We are grateful for any opportunity to play in Norway and hope to return one day under different circumstances.”

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