The Ghost Inside Jim Riley
[Photo via YouTube]

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.

Terror‘s guitarist Martin Stewart replied to the tweet and seemed to corroborate Jackson’s claim with additional details.

As time went on and Jackson’s claim was seen by more eyes, people began pressuring Riley to discuss the issue.

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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.

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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.”

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Rashod Jackson has responded to Riley’s statement as well.

Stewart also chimed back in providing more details about the incident.

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To show support through donations, connect with grassroots campaigns and obtain resources for allies, please refer to the links below.

Help the family of George Floyd here.
Fight for Breonna Taylor here.
Help the family of Ahmaud Arbery here.
To sign petitions for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and more, click here.

Donate to one or more community bail funds for protesters here.
Click here for more resources for protestors including pro-bono lawyers.
Visit Movement For Black Lives for additional ways you can help the cause.
Click here to connect with leaders building grassroots campaigns.
Here are some anti-racism resources for allies who want to learn more.

For other ways to donate, please head here.