When you call out a fan’s Trump-leaning political views while onstage at your show – whilst performing in the country which largely elected Trump as President – you best believe there is going to be a backlash.
Joel Birch, vocalist of the Amity Affliction is currently feeling the wrath of a political view scorned after he called out a fan wearing a Trump jersey at the band’s Brooklyn Bowl show in Las Vegas on January 5.
Joel Birch has taken to Instagram and Twitter to defend on his actions.
In his Instagram story, of which you can see screen shots below, he posted a private message from the Trump fun, who had sent him a photo of himself in the jersey with the message: “This is me at the concert. You’re very unprofessional to single out someone because of his beliefs”.
To which Birch replied publicly to his more than 90,000 followers:
“No. That’s not how this went down. If you feel attacked then you need to evaluate yourself, not what I said. Our music unites people, your clothing divides people.”
On Twitter Joel Birch wrote, “What I said tonight was much more balanced than I could have been, and wanted to be. Just like I wouldn’t wear an atheist tee to church, I expect people to exercise a certain decorum when attending our shows.”
Birch went on to express that he did not respect the views of the fan:
“I do not respect your ‘beliefs’,” he tweeted. “I do not feel like you have the right to make others uncomfortable by wearing a jersey that may as well be branded with a swastika. I will not remain silent if you come to our shows dressed like that.”
What I said tonight was much more balanced than I could have been, and wanted to be. Just like I wouldn’t wear an atheist tee to church, I expect people to exercise a certain decorum when attending our shows. Music has forever been a safe haven for me, and I want our shows to be
— Joel Birch (@JoelDTD) January 6, 2019
The backlash toward Birch is unsurprisingly heated. Birch has even featured a few on his Insta Story, which you can view below:
Even the Trump fan in question has gone public. Degan Palmer tweeted this:
This loser😂😂😂😂😂 all because I wore a trump jersey. @JoelDTD grow up you libtard💁♂️ https://t.co/VRddEXWabK
— Degan_Palmer (@Degan_Palmer) January 6, 2019
The Amity Affliction are currently out on a co-headlining tour throughout the US with Senses Fail that also features Silent Planet and Belmont.
American metalcore act Bad Omens previously pulled out of the tour due to a disagreement over the tour poster.
According to a statement published on The Amity Affliction’s Facebook page, Bad Omens pulled out of the ‘Misery Will Find You’ tour because “they were unhappy with the size of their name on the artwork.” The full statement can be read here.
