Eagles Of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes has slammed this weekend’s student-led gun control protests as “pathetic and disgusting” in a lengthy Instagram post.
This weekend saw hundreds of thousands of people in the US and beyond take part in the ‘March For Lives’ – calling for stricter gun control in America in the wake of the Parkland massacre, where 17 teens were gunned down and killed at school.
Hughes has previously caused controversy with comments made about gun control, arguing that it didn’t prevent the massacre at an Eagles Of Death Metal’s Bataclan gig back in 2015. The attack saw 89 people – including venue staff, band personnel and fans – were shot and killed by terrorist gunmen.
Repeating his beliefs, Hughes took to Instagram to share a drawing which compared gun regulation to a man cutting off his penis to prevent rape.
“The Whitney Houston song about letting the children lead the way wasn’t actually had operating paradigm for life,” wrote Hughes, “and when the truth don’t line up with your bullshit narrative just hold your breath and stamp your feet and refused to except it…then take multiple days off of school playing hooky at the expense of 16 of your classmates blood. It might be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic and disgusting……”
He continued: “As the survivor of a mass shooting I can tell you from first-hand experience that all of you protesting and taking days off from school insult the memory of those who were killed and abuse and insult me and every other lover of liberty by your every action.
“Long Live Rock’n’Roll….. and may everyone of these disgusting vile abusers of the dead live as long as possible so they can have the maximum amount of time to endure their shame… and be cursed….”
In the wake of a backlash, Hughes has since deleted his posts. See captures of the images and messages below.
https://twitter.com/girliesogroovy/status/978243956638126081
Update: Eagles of Death Metal frontman #JesseHughes deletes all posts ranting about “pathetic and disgusting” student-led protests against gun violence, as well as images mocking Parkland survivor #EmmaGonzalez and trans people https://t.co/jUoOSWEsSd pic.twitter.com/US7H8Fcw4T
— Consequence of Sound (@consequence) March 26, 2018
EODM's Jesse Hughes posted these two images along with a doctored photo of #EmmaGonzalez ripping up the Constitution https://t.co/cVLnG26qga pic.twitter.com/xBx1szdP2R
— Consequence of Sound (@consequence) March 26, 2018
In a series of since deleted posts, Hughes also called out Parkland survivor and activist Emma Gonzales – by sharing a photoshopped image of her tearing up the American Constitution and accusing her of “treason”.
Hey, @jesseEODM I think going out of your way to attack a fellow victim of gun violence, let alone a child, is a pretty pussy ass move. Might wanna check yourself cause your ignorance is showing.
Amendments are meant to be amended. pic.twitter.com/qjlOrM4mnD— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) March 26, 2018
Gonzales captured the spirit of the weekend’s march, calling for action, compassion and unity to prevent further needless deaths in US schools.
WATCH: Emma Gonzalez names the murdered Parkland victims and observes several minutes of silence in a 6-minute, 20-second speech that covered the same time it took the gunman to kill 17 people in her high school:
"Fight for your lives before it's someone else's job." pic.twitter.com/OrTfuTdSNn
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 24, 2018
“Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds,” said Gonzalez at one point after breaking a moment’s silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives. “The shooter has ceased shooting, and will soon abandon his rifle, blend in with the students as they escape, and walk free for an hour before arrest.
“Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job.”
Back in 2016, Hughes came under fire from EODM fan Ismael El Iraki – who attended the Bataclan gig where the massacre took place.
“I love your [band’s] music, your concerts mostly (such fun, wild shows) and man, I never thought that you would become one of those spreaders of fear,” he wrote. “Fox News, Trump, all those guys. You always felt like a maverick, a rebel: we now know that you are not. We (and by that I mean the rebels, the mavericks, the rock crowd) always loved and defended you because you were a lovable fool and kind of a dumb fuck, like the Three Stooges or Tex Avery’s wolf. You now proved your stupidity to be fucking dangerous.”
Since the time of posting, Hughes since took to Instagram promising to “check his politics at the door” when it comes to rock n’ roll. That post has also been deleted in the wake of a backlash.