WHIRR, featuring ex members of DEAFHEAVEN and talented musicians behind the recent split with NOTHING, have beed dropped off Run For Cover Records’ roster after a series of transphobic tweets, most of which were fired against Olympia, Washington’s punk band G.L.O.S.S. (mentioned in this recent interview with BENCHPRESS!) The tweets have been deleted, the band has posted an official word stating that it was their friend who had tweeted the controversial comments, but the band has been fired from the label anyway.
Here’s a couple of samples of what they had tweeted:
Lol @ G.L.O.S.S
misogyny is hating women. g.l.o.s.s. Is just a bunch of boys running around in panties making shitty music.
@toothlessmile there is literally nothing not hilarious about that “band”.
@briannaocs we could put on dresses.
… then added some lame jokes about trans kids who have attempted suicide:
@elohellie lol attempting suicide. If you’re gonna do it, do it right the first time.
@elohellie@ShieldExhile nah, that’s an actual stance on suicide. My mom commited suicide why can’t all these trans kids get it right?
Run For Cover Record commented:
“We as individuals and as a label are accepting of all people and require the same from the bands and people we work with,” they said via Twitter. “We will not be working with Whirr from this point on and do not support that behavior in anyway. We will post a full statement tomorrow.”
Nick Bassett of WHIRR (ex-DEAFHEAVEN) issued the following statement:
“Regarding last nights activity on Twitter: firstly let me say that no one in the band has anything against people who identify as transgender. The comments that were made last night do not reflect any member’s personal views. we had always let a good friend of ours have free reign on the Twitter account along with ourselves because we thought he was funny. And we won’t lie, a lot of what has been posted on here has been. But the statements made last night admittedly went too far and things were said that we can’t actually back up anymore. Needless to say this friend has been dealt with and will no longer have any involvement with the band or control of this account. I will now be the only one running things on the Twitter and facebook. And I apologize for letting things get to this point. While we understand anyone who chooses not to forgive us, we can only ask that you not take our your aggressions on the people and companies we have worked with in the past.
Sincerely, Nick Bassett.”
The label replied…
Frankly, no, it doesn’t change anything. We were aware of the information in Whirr’s statement when we made the decision. Although the band is not signed to our label, and never have been, we have decided to not work with them in the future, and stop selling their releases we did have a hand in. Also, despite being at a financial net loss with Whirr and Camera Shy, we will be donating $3,000 to a TBA non profit in support of equal rights for LGBTQ. We will be posting what organization later today, we just didn’t want to jump the gun on that decision.
… and then donated $3,000 to a non-profit organization in support of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.
The band’s previous label Graveface Records added:
“There are no contracts at Graveface so there’s no booting anyone off. Simply enough I will not be releasing records by anyone I know to be hateful, especially in regards to all of this.”
