After losing their headliner, a Slipknot cover band has been promoted to the top of the bill.
Several bands have withdrawn from an upcoming metal festival in protest of the organizers’ decision to feature Kyle Rittenhouse, the gunman who killed protesters during a racial justice demonstration in 2020.
Shell Shock II, set for October 19 in Orlando, Florida, announced a special guest appearance by Rittenhouse, leading headliner Evergreen Terrace to withdraw from the event, according to Loudwire.
At least three other acts—Southpaw, Let Me Bleed, and American Hollow—have also pulled out, forcing organizers to elevate a Slipknot cover band to the headlining spot.
Rittenhouse gained notoriety four years ago when, at 17, he traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, purportedly to protect businesses from looters during protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
After shooting three people during the unrest, two of whom died, Rittenhouse claimed self-defense and was acquitted of all charges.
The case propelled Rittenhouse to fame among right-wing circles, leading to appearances on broadcasts with Tucker Carlson and a meeting with then-President Donald Trump, who described him as “really a nice young man.”
“Evergreen Terrace has always supported and continues to support philanthropic events for veterans, PTSD awareness, child poverty, and many more,” the former headliner posted on Facebook. “But we will not align with an event promoting murderers like Kyle Rittenhouse capitalizing on their pseudo-celebrity.”
The band added that the festival had offered to remove Rittenhouse from the lineup, but they decided to withdraw after discovering other “associated entities that we simply do not agree with.”
Despite Evergreen Terrace’s claim that Shell Shock II offered to drop Rittenhouse, “The Antihero Podcast,” which hosts the event, issued a statement seemingly reaffirming their stance.
“We are prepping. The liberal mob attempted to destroy Shell Shock,” read a post on the podcast’s Instagram account. “We will not allow it. This is now about more than a concert. This is a war of ideology.”