Baltimore hardcore band End It recently returned to the stage and appeared to have buried the hatchet with banana men worldwide. The group drew mixed reactions earlier this month, when their vocalist Akil Godsey infamously called upon the audience to tear apart the banana costume of a concertgoer at their June 05th show in Toronto, ON. Godsey placed a proverbial bounty on the concertgoer by offering up the band’s setlist to whoever successfully tore apart the costume.
Godsey at the time warned the banana costume wearing audience member from the stage that “he wanted the attention, and now he has it.” While a portion of the crowd promptly attempted to claim Godsey‘s bounty, effectively ripping the banana costume to shreds, the resulting discourse over a band inciting a call to violence over the costume drew mixed reactions.
Footage of End It previously taking issue with costume-clad concertgoers at their shows would resurface in the wake of the controversy. However, the concertgoer whose costume was torn up at the Toronto show made clear he was not aware of the band’s stance prior. That concertgoer’s social media also showcased him taking in numerous shows in banana costumes, proving this wasn’t a targeted instance. A subsequent interview also saw the concertgoer reveal that he was in attendance at that Toronto show that night to see headliners Terror, and was not entirely familiar with End It.
After weeks of silence that saw End It‘s Facebook page disappear and the group absent from a planned fall tour announcement with Hatebreed & Life Of Agony [reportedly they were omitted last minute until things die down], Godsey took to social media this past week. In a video statement on the matter, he weas largely dismissive about the controversy, stating at one point, “We’re a hardcore band, we do hardcore things.”
However, amid their just launched run on some European festivals, it would appear that Godsey and his bandmates have reversed course on their banana man hatred. Godsey has newly reshared the below shots via his Instagram story of himself hugging a banana costume adorned concertgoer during the band’s June 27th set at ‘Jera On Air‘ in Ysselsteyn, NET. He captioned the post, “The great Banana Treaty of Ysselsteyn.”
