Phil Anselmo of Down/Superjoint has given a new interview to ‘The Classic Metal Show‘ and shared his thoughts regarding the criticism from some who feel he didn’t really explain himself for his actions this past January. Anselmo of course used racist gestures & remarks during his performance at the ‘Dimebash‘ event this past January, which led to him facing widespread condemnation.
He issued various apologies on the matter and recently gave his first proper interview on the incident. In it he alleged that hecklers had been taunting him with chants of him being a racist throughout the night and that his gestures were in part a drunken reaction to them. Speaking to ‘The Classic Metal Show‘, Anselmo further explained himself and somewhat confusingly went on to speculate that many of the people calling him out have likely done similar things themselves. Of that he offered:
“I would say to any critic out there that has terrible things to say about me, look, I owned that moment—I owned the moment. And it was a dumb, dumb move on my part, because I’ve dealt with hecklers before. Basically, I was showing the ugly, I was playing a part; it was an ugly gesture. And I’ve said this before: look, if that joke is not funny anymore and it’s worn its welcome out, then so be it. I can grow as well.
And look, if I truly, truly upset anyone with that gesture and those two words, then you know, my apology is sincere. But then there’s the flipside where I get the feeling that if you look through a certain lens long enough and you’re desperately trying to spot something, you’re gonna eventually find it, no matter what is; no matter how vague it may be, you’re gonna find something. Me? I was blatant. I was blatant and doing what I did on purpose, but with a sense of humor behind it.
And anyone with a logical mind knows—knows for a damn fact—that my love extends to every person in this crazy world of all colors, creeds, kinds, shapes, sizes, sexual preference… you name it, I’m for you , baby; I’m on your side… I just think that sometimes these certain people that do look through these lenses, perhaps—and maybe this is just speculation, but perhaps—like they used to say on the schoolyard, ‘It takes one to know one,’ or maybe the fact that you’re looking through this lens is kind of showing who you are as well. Enough of this you know? Enough of that. I own it, I apologized, my apology was sincere, you can look it up.”
Anselmo will next be in stores this Friday, November 11th, with the upcoming release of Superjoint‘s new album, “Caught In The Gears Of Application“.
