Similar to the recent question about artists where you can successfully separate them from their art. Are there any artists who did something so horrible, so despicable, that it has instantly invalidated all art that they have had any part in?

  • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Foo Fighters used to be real down with the whole AIDS denialism, even financially supporting it.

    I know David Grohl is an internet sweetheart, but every time I see anything Foo related, I just immediately wonder how many people died pointless and preventable deaths because they believed the denialism Foo Fighters pushed.

    • Zoolander@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      To be fair, it wasn’t Dave’s idea or something he supported. It was bassist Nate Mendel’s message that they were, admittedly, amplifying. Even the info on their website had a disclaimer that listed it as “being displayed at the request of Nate Mendel”.

      I think they all regret being involved in amplifying that message too, including Nate. In the 20 years since they initially broke support with the people involved, they’ve played several shows in support of HIV/AIDS awareness groups, fundraised for Elton John’s AIDS Foundation, and every tour they do now has some kind of fundraising or auctions to support AIDS education or LGBTQIA+ rights.

      It feels like they know now, in hindsight of course, that it was harmful and have at least tried to do more good to make up for it. Mendel was even quoted saying that the only reason he did it was because he thought he was helping people, not hurting them.

      • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        To be fair, it wasn’t Dave’s idea or something he supported.

        And yet he kept mendel in the band, and had the message plastered on their website.

        Thats not something you get to handwave away with even the grossest incompetence claim.

        Mendel was even quoted saying that the only reason he did it was because he thought he was helping people, not hurting them.

        I mean, yeah. he likes his career, of course he says that.

        • Zoolander@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          No one is hand waving anything away. Nate is a member of the band. The message on the website was clear that it was his message.

          You make it seem like people can’t change their views based on new information. It’s not like they could go back in time and not do those things after the fact. They’ve done far more in support of AIDS education. It’s not fair to vilify them for something they did for a few years while ignoring everything they’ve done since for more than 20 years.

          • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            You make it seem like people can’t change their views based on new information.

            I never said or implied that.

            I said you cant handwave away or excuse Grohls involvement, and that a person who values their career has an incentive to say a certain thing after being called out for being a piece of shit.

            Anything beyond that is just your fiction.

            • Zoolander@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              Except you did. You’re literally on a discussion where you posted Dave Grohl because of something he was a part of for maybe 2 or 3 years that wasn’t even his idea to begin with while ignoring everything he’s done for 20+ years since.

              And now you’re being dishonest about it.