This was actually posted by a musician in the hardcore scene. You actually had to think about this and hit send. This tone deaf insensitivity is just appalling. pic.twitter.com/mX073YUqzN
— Steve Micciche (@MitchBHavin) June 3, 2020
Shortly thereafter, Stick To Your Guns vocalist Jesse Barnett offered a more direct assessment:This isn't cute, funny joke. It's straight up fucking garbage. Can't backpedal out of that.
— Steve Micciche (@MitchBHavin) June 3, 2020
STYG's Josh James echoed his bandmate's sentiment:Hey @CoryBrandan I know you are always trying to make it a point to own the libs but you're a fucking punk bitch. Fuck you. Fuck your band. Fuck ANYONE who fucks with you. You're not welcome any where near my scene you fucking coward mother fucker. Fuck you. pic.twitter.com/exEoBJVzJb
— jessbarn5@aol.com (@SomeKindofJesse) June 3, 2020
Ex-Beartooth guitarist Taylor Lumley also weighed in:Hey @lambgoat go ahead and announce that @NormaJeanBand is over. https://t.co/N1B40STP5T
— Josh James (@joshjamesxxx) June 3, 2020
Prior to the public shaming from his peers, Brandan deleted the image after feedback from some of his followers and offered this explanation:Don't step foot in Columbus again.
— Taylor Lumley (@tlums) June 3, 2020
Haha this is not what some of you guys think it is at all. I haven't seen that other gif. Fuck me. Deleted. I back the movement, but there's nuance to it and the conversation is chaos. If you know me, you know I hate "the state". (And getting in trouble on twitter)
— Cory Brandan (@CoryBrandan) June 2, 2020
I'm not trying to be on here. But one of my frustrations is seeing the conversation get washed away today with the black out. (Which I said would happen) so I RTd someone this morning you should check out. That's it. Focus on the big picture. Not me. (Y'all love me though)
— Cory Brandan (@CoryBrandan) June 2, 2020
I was frustrated with the arguing and division I was seeing online. I searched for blah blah and that was one of the first gifs. I understand it was disrespectful. I'm sorry.
— Cory Brandan (@CoryBrandan) June 3, 2020
Yeah I realize I messed up on that. I was uninformed about the gif. I didn't realize it was mocking another one. No excuse. I need to be better. Sorry.
— Cory Brandan (@CoryBrandan) June 2, 2020
Not surprisingly, Brandan's explanation and apology failed to appease both James and Micciche:Thank you. I'm educating myself at reclaim the block and I've made a donation to Joyce Preschool from their "fund the broader movement" campaign. I'm also looking into other ways that we can use our platforms to help.
— Cory Brandan (@CoryBrandan) June 3, 2020
I can smell the bullshit from here.
— Josh James (@joshjamesxxx) June 3, 2020
For his part, Every Time I Die vocalist Keith Buckley says that his band will never appear on the same bill as Norma Jean again:My thoughts? Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Zero tolerance for that shit in the scene, period. How many times can you fuck up? You don't post something like that, ever. But especially in this climate. Fucking loser.
— Steve Micciche (@MitchBHavin) June 3, 2020
UPDATE: Cory Brandan has now issued the following statement via Facebook:that ban has been in effect for a while now and will obviously continue. it will also be brought to the attention of any festival promoter that intends to include our bands on the same bill once touring resumes
— keith buckley (@deathoftheparty) June 3, 2020