Falling In Reverse vocalist Ronnie Radke has issued a fiery response to the controversy Launceston, Tasmania mayor Matthew Garwood has recently faced. The aforementioned city official has come under scrutiny after spending some time with Radke at a Falling In Reverse meet & greet.
Garwood posted about his time with Radke at a recent stop of the band’s Australian tour on his Facebook earlier this week. However, given Radke‘s controversial past and continued divisive commentary on social media, Garwood soon found himself under fire from some of his peers on the Launceston City Council. Other citizens of Launceston also apparently voiced concern.
Garwood‘s initial post on social media from the meet & greet read:
“Maybe one of the most controversial characters in my generation of the hard rock music scene
Through Escape the Fate and now Falling in Reverse – Ronnie Radke!
Through changes and empathising general and personal challenges – was awesome to spend sometime together and talk all things Tassie and personal growth and learning.
Always a mic drop moment when I get to play the “Mayor card.”
Haters keep coming strong but strength is in believing in yourself, the support around you and the resilience to carry on.
*new collab dropping 2026!”
Garwood would later go on to apologize to those he offended for associating with Radke:
“As a heavy metal music fan, I headed off to Falling in Reverse meet and greet and I’m really disheartened that my post has caused some offence and concern. Noting that I absolutely could have worded and responded to it way better.
I attended not as an official rep of the City and posted on this, my personal page but, as I continue to learn, it seems that it’s difficult to differentiate or have a personal life in an elected role.
I saw this as simply an opportunity to meet a band that I went through high school listening to. Never to endorse any specific actions or personal positions of the band. I appreciate that people may have differing views on this, and I respect those perspectives.
I made a comment about “playing the mayor card”, which I said as a quip that my role as mayor is a pretty cool conversation starter – particularly visually in this situation with tattoos ect.
I understand that some members of the community have raised questions about member, Ronnie Radke’s past and my association with him. I was aware of some of the accusations but not every detail – it was about the music.
Sorry, I never want to cause distress or upset members of the community. As Mayor, I know I do things a bit differently and I remain committed to representing all residents of Launceston with integrity and openness.”
Taking to social media today, March 21st, Radke first put Australian public broadcaster ABC on blast for their report on the matter. His opening volley found him stating:
“Imagine abc news grasping at straws since their ratings are so bad they have to do articles about the mayor of Tasmania taking a picture with me. Hey @ABC I’m bigger than you. And have more of an impact. Ain’t nothing yall propagandist can do. Fuck you.”
In a follow-up video posted soon afterwards, Radke launched into 5-minute long diatribe against ABC and the City Councillors who condemned or voiced concern for Garwood meeting with Radke. At one point, Radke directed his ire towards one of the city councillors who voiced criticism for Garwood associating with Radke, stating [transcribed by theprp.com,] “You’re a disgrace to your entire city and town and I’m gonna make sure that you f*cking feel this one.”
After previously clarifying in the video that he was cleared by DNA evidence of allegations of rape and went on to successfully sue his accuser, Radke went on to make accusations of hypocrisy, stating:
“You guys don’t say a f*cking word when Tommy Lee comes to town, do you? But he had to go to jail for beating the sh*t out of his girlfriend or wife or whatever [Lee was sentenced to six months in jail in 1998 for spousal abuse.] You know how many countless people you guys overlook and you let into your f*cking country that are raping and pillaging people and f*cking literally doing terrible shit?”
After sharing footage of the email and phone number of one of the city councillors who claimed in the ABC report that she had received messages from concerned citizens, stating, “They are understandably perplexed why our mayor would stand in solidarity with a person convicted of parole violations associated with violence,” Radke specifically targeted said city councillor, stating:
“You want to talk about f*cking equality bitch? Why am I not included? You fucking lego-headed bitch. Meanwhile, here’s me in Australia, boosting your f*cking economy, and doing 5 to 600,000 dollars a night in f*cking merch and bringing kids onstage that asked me at the meet & greet if they could some sing a song with me. Yeah, that’s the f*cking terrible human being I am, huh.”
Radke‘s diatribe didn’t end there, further dialing in on the city councillors who spoke out against him, while also labeling ABC a ‘propaganda machine’. Addressing Garwood in the video, he went on to say:
“And to the guy, the mayor of Tasmania, or whatever, what’s up man? The motherf*cker just came through the meet & greet to take a picture and come see the show and he was really excited. I f*cking hate politics and I f*cking hate all you pieces of sh*t out there that judge like this. Let this be a lesson, because this is not the end.”
After going on a tangent on his ongoing efforts to expose alleged pedophiles in the music industry, and insinuating that some politicians may have engaged in such heinous behavior, Radke once again focused his ire on the Launceston City Council members and ABC, offering:
“F*ck ABC news, f*ck all these councilmen in Australia, f*ck this shit, dude. F*ck you guys. I boosted your f*cking economy. I f*cking made a buncha kids happy. I made a bunch of f*cking grown men & f*cking women crying f*cking happy at my meet & greets and at my shows — f*cking giant arenas sold out — when’s the last time you ever did anything for your f*cking city, except sit around and bitch and complain. F*ck you.”
