On Sunday when Marilyn Manson performed at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, he got immediate criticism where during the song “WE KNOW WHERE YOU FUCKING LIVE,” he sang from a microphone mounted to an assault rifle. While he didn’t make any statement onstage, the backlash that he received for his action on the day of another mass shooting was immediate. He’s since made a statement about the act, claiming, of course, that it was all art and no disrespect was meant:
“In an era where mass shootings have become a nearly daily occurrence, this was an act of theater in an attempt to make a statement about how easily accessible semi-automatic weapons are and how seeing them has become normalized. My art has always been a reaction to popular culture and my way to make people think about the horrible things that happen in this world.
My performance was not meant to be disrespectful or show any insensitivity. The prop microphone I used on stage was handed to me with the approval of a police officer. My empathy goes out to anyone who has been affected by the irresponsible and reprehensible misuse of REAL guns.”
We’ll see if this is something he keeps doing as his touring continues, or if it was just a one-off meant to gauge the taste and reaction. Either way, if he didn’t say anything about it while onstage in front of 50,000 people, it’s a missed opportunity for sure.
