It looks like Dead Kennedys praising Mitt Romney didn’t work out too well
Amidst the ongoing Pro-Trump protests at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Dead Kennedys decided to share their thoughts on the events that transpired. However, it looks like their comments have backfired.
Many individuals in the punk community including former Dead Kennedys member Jello Biafra and Eve 6 have responded to Dead Kennedys’ latest comments. As expected, a lot of people aren’t too happy.
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On Jan. 6, the U.S. Capitol was taken over by Pro-Trump supporters who were protesting the results of the Presidental election. While the Senate was certifying the Electoral College votes, which favored President-elect Joe Biden, the supporters began rioting inside of the Capitol building. As a result, members of the Senate and other essential personnel were evacuated and taken to secure locations.
In the end, four individuals died during the protests including one woman who was shot during a confrontation between protestors and law enforcement. Following the events that transpired, Republican senator Mitt Romney released a statement and called the rioting “shameful.”
“What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States,” Romney says. “Those who choose to continue to support his dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate, democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit in an unprecedented attack against our democracy. They will be remembered for their role in this shameful episode in American history. That will be their legacy.”
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Romney’s statement warranted a response from many individuals including Evan McMullin, who is a former Republican turned Independent. In a series of tweets, McMullin calls out the lawmakers who originally sided with Trump’s attempts to overturn the election, but are now denouncing the President’s actions following the protests. He also calls out those who remained silent as the protests ensued.
Do not excuse Congressional Republicans who joined Trump’s coup attempt and who now, seeing its horror, disavow it. They knew the peril of their actions from the start, even from the beginning of Trump’s rise. They are completely and evermore complicit in this betrayal.
— Evan McMullin ?? (@EvanMcMullin) January 7, 2021
It must be a national cause to replace every single Republican who supported this insurrection until the task is complete.
— Evan McMullin ?? (@EvanMcMullin) January 6, 2021
Those who stormed the Capitol today, the right-wing media who misled and enflamed them, the elected Republicans who joined Trump’s sedition, and those who stood by silently as it all happened are traitors to America. Plain and simple. They’ll be remembered in infamy forever.
— Evan McMullin ?? (@EvanMcMullin) January 6, 2021
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All of this led to Dead Kennedys praising both McMullin and Romney on Twitter.
“Thank you @SenatorRomney and @EvanMcMullin Mitt cares about the the USA.”
Thank you @SenatorRomney and @EvanMcMullin Mitt cares about the the USA. pic.twitter.com/9YGslzvCRp
— Dead Kennedys (@DeadKennedys) January 7, 2021
This, of course, didn’t go down too well with many individuals in the punk community. The tweet eventually warranted a response from Jello Biafra, who left Dead Kennedys in the ’80s. Biafra used his record label’s Twitter account to call his former band “dumb” and “clueless” for praising Romney.
“As if today couldn’t get any weirder, look who posted this!! How dumb and clueless can you get?? Was it scab singer Skip, who recently denied DK’s are a political band, just, ‘a social satire band”?? Ea$t Bay Ray?? It sure as hell wasn’t me…'”
“As if today couldn’t get any weirder, look who posted this!!
How dumb and clueless can you get??
Was it scab singer Skip, who recently denied DK’s are a political band, just, “a social satire band”??
Ea$t Bay Ray??
It sure as hell wasn’t me…”– Jello https://t.co/57lWb8sDQV
— AlternativeTentacles (@AltTentacles) January 7, 2021
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Eve 6 also decided to weigh in on Dead Kennedys’ tweet. The band posted their own tweet, bringing into question Dead Kennedys’ status within the punk music genre.
“wtf how are we more punk than you”
“i guess kill the poor wasnt satirical”
i guess kill the poor wasnt satirical
— notfx (@Eve6) January 7, 2021
Dead Kennedys eventually responded to some of the backlash they received.
If you don’t believe in humanity and science we don’t care.
— Dead Kennedys (@DeadKennedys) January 7, 2021
Easier if you get off our page !
— Dead Kennedys (@DeadKennedys) January 7, 2021
Send us the pics. We will gladly post them.
— Dead Kennedys (@DeadKennedys) January 7, 2021
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Over the past 24 hours, a lot of stories and reactions have emerged amid the protests. John Cena reacted to the ongoing events while also flexing his blink-182 love on Instagram. He shared a photo of Tom DeLonge‘s Boomer that encompasses a lot of what people are likely feeling this week.
View this post on Instagram
As well, Ariel Pink is among the individuals identified at the protests on Wednesday. Director Alex Lee Moyer shared a photo, tagged in Washington, D.C., and video confirming that Ariel Pink and singer John Maus were at the protests at the U.S. Capitol.
“The day we almost died but had a great time instead.”
— ⚠️ (@emilieaux) January 7, 2021
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One individual also called Ariel Pink out on Twitter which led to Pink confirming that he did attend the protests, but does not condone the violence that transpired.
“it’s true- i don’t and never have advocated for violent confrontation or rioting. must be my boomer upbringing.”
“i was in dc to peacefully show my support for the president. i attended the rally on the white house lawn and went back to hotel and took a nap. case closed”
its true- i dont and never have advocated for violent confrontation or rioting. must be my boomer upbringing.
— Ariel Pink (@arielxpink) January 7, 2021
i was in dc to peacefully show my support for the president. i attended the rally on the white house lawn and went back to hotel and took a nap. case closed
— Ariel Pink (@arielxpink) January 7, 2021
Along with Ariel Pink, Iced Earth‘s Jon Schaffer was also identified at the protests. In a series of photos shared by AFP’s Roberto Schmidt, Schaffer can be seen among the protestors who breached the U.S. Capitol building.
@MetalHammer It’s our boy, Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth on a holiday to DC. pic.twitter.com/fJpgKmNrNq
— Alex (@RPG_Al3x) January 6, 2021
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Despite everything that happened on Wednesday, the Senate officially completed their certification of the Electoral College votes. Vice-President Mike Pence officially gave the Presidental election victory to Joe Biden on Thursday morning.
In the meantime, various Democratic lawmakers are calling upon Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. By doing so, Pence can officially remove Donald Trump from office. These demands arrived around the same time Donald Trump was officially locked out of his Twitter account.
According to the social media platform, three tweets violated its civic integrity policy. Along with locking his account, Twitter warns he could eventually be banned from the platform for good.
UPDATE: JAN. 7, 2021, 5:30 P.M. ET
Dead Kennedys are responding to the criticism they’ve received over the Mitt Romney tweet. According to the band, their social media manager made the post without consulting the band. As well, East Bay Ray and Ron “Skip” Greer say they had nothing to do with the tweet that was shared.
The Tweet yesterday was solely the Social Media Managers view and not the band, who wasn’t consulted. Like everyone who was watching the events unfold yesterday, it was nice to see the rats leaving the ship pic.twitter.com/AJgSFwhJ77
— Dead Kennedys (@DeadKennedys) January 7, 2021
What are your reactions to the Dead Kennedys tweet about Mitt Romney? Let us know in the comments below.