The Ghost Inside bassist addresses backlash over use of racial slur
On June 4, Bracewar drummer Rashod Jackson took to Twitter to call out the Ghost Inside‘s bass player Jim Riley. Jackson shared a tweet from the Ghost Inside about a new shirt with profits going to the NAACP.
The Bracewar drummer alleged that TGI’s “bitch ass bass player” used a racial slur about a tour bus driver and that the Ghost Inside are overlooking that. Jackson’s tweet gained a lot of traction and Riley has since released a statement about the issue.
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The Ghost Inside revealed their “What Do You Stand For?” shirt on June 4 and announced that all of the profits would go to the National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People. Shortly after, Jackson commented on the post alleging that TGI’s bassist, in Riley, used a racial slur a number of years ago.
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‘s guitarist Martin Stewart replied to the tweet and seemed to corroborate Jackson’s claim with additional details.
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
As time went on and Jackson’s claim was seen by more eyes, people began pressuring Riley to discuss the issue.
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
We’ll give @theghostinside & @SpartaDTD a few more hours to address it. He knows what he said. Why would I, a black man with everything going on right now make a joke about this. If you think this is a joke then you’re part of the problem. https://t.co/lT7e8UWx6I
— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020
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Unfortunately, people also began giving Rashod Jackson grief over the timing of his insinuation. Some believed he was making a joke at an inappropriate time due to the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd.
So, Jackson showed the receipts. He posted a picture of one of his tweets to Riley from 2015 addressing the same issue.
To everyone asking “why is this just not coming out” well here you go https://t.co/JhFjITBdzJ
— Shod Exotic (@RashodJackson) June 5, 2020
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Now, the Ghost Inside bassist has officially responded to Jackson’s claim in a thread of tweets.
“Rashod called me out in 2015. I called him, he put the screws to me,” Riley begins. “I deserved it, and I apologized to him. He told me that wasn’t good enough and he was right. It’s 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.”
“Because of that conversation I had to take a big fucking look in the mirror and recognize a lot of bullshit that I was selling myself. I made too many excuses for being brought up without exposure to the black experience, and I should have been better. I make a conscious effort to purge stuff about myself that still sucks when I find it, and to be mindful that I’m just a passenger on someone else’s ship in any movement related to black lives.”
“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.”
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 (@TheJimRiley) 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 (@TheJimRiley) 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 (@TheJimRiley) June 5, 2020
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Rashod Jackson has responded to Riley’s statement as well.
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
Stewart also chimed back in providing more details about the incident.
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
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