The Ghost Inside: Jim Riley äußert sich zu Rassismusvorwürfen; Stick To Your Guns-Frontmann unterstützt die Kritiker *Update*

Update (06.06.2020, 14:50 Uhr): Kürzlich wurden schwere Vorwürfe gegen The Ghost Inside-Bassist Jim Riley laut. Rashod Jackson, Drummer der Band Bracewar, schuldigte Riley an, vor einigen Jahren während einer laufenden Tour rassistische Äußerungen gegen einen dunkelhäutigen Busfahrer vom Stapel gelassen habe.

Auch Terror-Gitarrist Martin Stewart bestätigte dies. Jackson forderte Riley zu einer Entschuldigung auf, die er mittlerweile auch lieferte. Der TGI-Bassist veröffentlichte über Twitter ein Statement, das ihr euch in Gänze nachfolgend durchlesen könnt. Seine Entschuldigung wurde daraufhin auch kommentarlos über das Profil der Band geteilt.

The Ghost Inside-Bassist Jim Riley entschuldigt sich für rassistische Äußerung

Its shameful and fucking embarrassing. I present myself as someone who gives a shit about progressive movements and ideas, and I was not living up to that.

— The Jim Riley (@SpartaDTD) June 5, 2020

I made too many excuses for being brought up without exposure to the black experience, and I should have been better.

— The Jim Riley (@SpartaDTD) June 5, 2020

I'm sorry. I know that's not enough. I'm going to keep doing the work. That might still not be enough. I'm going to do it anyway.

— The Jim Riley (@SpartaDTD) June 5, 2020

Rashon Jackson wiederum will diese Entschuldigung nicht annehmen. Es sei einfach nicht genug. Der Tweet-Sturm gegen den The Ghost Inside-Bassisten geht derzeit weiter.

Hey coward….@ me motherfucker. Apologize to ME. Apologize to my fucking PEOPLE. You were a coward then and an even bigger coward now. As long as youre in that band, I’ll make sure you NEVER play a show. Mark my words. @SpartaDTD pic.twitter.com/G0g7GhD1Ib

— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020

For all you people out there that questioned me and defended that motherfucker asking if he REALLY said it….educate yourselves and start being a solution and not the problem. Don’t you EVER question a person of color when it comes to this shit.

— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020

No “Dude sorry” isn’t a good enough apology when it comes to racism. Are you a privileged white persona too? Sounds like it “bro” https://t.co/M3RFkaOfzX

— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020

And while we’re here, @theghostinside pretty tasteless to take the Black Lives Matter movement and turn it into being about your bands record release.

— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020

I will defend my color, my people, and my life til the day I die. You’re either with us or against us.

— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020

Auch Terror-Gitarrist Stewart sowie – neu eingemischt – Stick To Your Guns-Frontmann Jesse Barnett schießen erneut gegen Riley.

do you think apologizing to a man he feared would crush his face for repeatedly saying “gotta go pay the nigger” in reference to their black bus driver (only apologizing from that fear, not accepting his actual problem) should be seen as case closed?

— Martín (@ForeverLawless) June 5, 2020

Barnett ließ folgendes „Statement“ vom Stapel:

„For anyone wanting to know, [Rashod] is my fucking brother. He has always championed me and ALL of my music. When push came to shove I didn’t back him in the way that I should have. He was on tour with us when he first called out Jim and TGI. This was in 2015. Since then, I remained silent and even continually contributed to TGI. There was always pressure on STYG to not stir the pot for all sorts of reasons but that is no excuse. Fuck everyone who let him get away with it, especially STYG.

This fucking bullshit has to stop. A lot of us have piped up in ways we never have before and I love it but I promise you this, once things start to calm we better not let up. There’s no going back now. We defend our people. We defend our communities. No matter what. Go read [George Schmitz] comments on this as he is much more articulate and inspiring.“

Ursprüngliche Meldung (05.06.2020, 16:50 Uhr): Schwere Anschuldigungen werden gegen The Ghost Inside-Bassist Jim Riley laut. Demnach wirft Bracewar-Drummer Rashod Jackson dem Musiker vor, vor einigen Jahren rassistische Äußerungen gegen einen dunkelhäutigen Busfahrer losgelassen zu haben.

Aber der Reihe nach… TGI launchten ein neues T-Shirt. Die Erlöse aus den Einnahmen des Verkaufs sollen an die Organisation National Association for the Advancement of Colored People gehen.

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

We are looking in the mirror and asking ourselves what we stand for. Tomorrow our new album will be released. That has been in motion for months – the packages are literally in the mail. But we can’t ignore what is happening all around us and act like it’s business as usual. This release will bring the most attention to TGI that we’ve ever seen, and we will use that platform to promote anti-racist resources. We can’t tell you what to stand for, you are on that journey yourself. Whether you are taking the first step or the one millionth step, keep moving. This design was created by @skrimp, you can find more of his work at @centwood.co This shirt will be available through this weekend. All profits will be matched by @epitaphrecords and donated directly to the @naacp. Black lives matter.

Ein Beitrag geteilt von (@theghostinside) am Jun 4, 2020 um 2:03 PDT

Bracewar-Drummer erhebt Rassismusvorwürfe gegen The Ghost Inside-Bassist Jim Riley

Nachdem die Kombo um Frontmann Jonathan Vigil diese Aktion auf ihren Socials publik machte, teilte der Bracewar-Schlagzeuger den Beitrag und schrieb einen sarkastischen Kommentar. Darin „erinnerte“ er Riley an den Vorfall, bei dem er einen Busfahrer angeblich rassistisch beleidigte.

This is cute. @theghostinside y’all gonna act like your bitch ass bass player didn’t call y’alls bus driver a nigger that time? I ain’t forget that shit. https://t.co/vTJuawPbyW

— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020

Terror-Gitarrist Terror Martin Stewart bestätigte den Vorwurf Jacksons wenig später ebenfalls mit einem Tweet.

remember when little whitey open hand slapped his tall punk ass in the face for it?! HAHAHA https://t.co/YA6bMNKmS7

— Martín (@ForeverLawless) June 5, 2020

Ein Statement des The Ghost Inside-Bassisten oder der Band steht noch aus. Bracewar-Schlagzeuger Jackson adressierte ihn über einen weiteren Tweet noch einmal persönlich.

What’s good Jim! The people wanna know. Don’t be a fucking coward speak up. Tell them you said what you said. https://t.co/bL6KnabduH

— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020

Ob die Behauptungen wahr sind, können wir natürlich nicht sagen.

Wir halten hierzu Augen und Ohren offen und berichten über entsprechende Neuigkeiten.

The Ghost Inside brachten heute ihr Selftitled-Album auf den Markt. Die Platte markiert den ersten Output der Kombo seit dem verhereerenden Busunfall im November 2015.

Bild: Epitaph Records / YouTube: „The Ghost Inside – ‚Aftermath'“