After several days of silence following his non-apology for giving a Nazi salute and yelling “white power” onstage at the Dimebash, Phil Anselmo has had a change of heart and issued a video apology. Anselmo sounds genuinely apologetic, but is apologizing for that particular instance, which was preserved on video. It’s not like it’s a new revelation that Anselmo has said some racist things in the past, joke or no joke, and Anselmo doesn’t address his past, even though he does sound remorseful in the video. Here’s the transcription of his apology:
Philip H. Anselmo here, and I’m here to basically respond to all the heat I’ve been getting that I deserve completely. I was at the Dimebash and it was extremely late at night. There was heavy duty talk between myself and those who love Dime. Heavy emotions were flowing, jokes were made backstage, that transpired upon the stage, and it was ugly, it was uncalled for, and anyone who knows me and my true nature knows that I don’t believe in any of that, I don’t wanna be part of any group. I’m an individual and I am 1000% apolgetic to anyone who took offense to what I said. You really should have taken offense to what I said. And I am so sorry. And I hope, man, just give me another chance. Just give me another chance. I love all of you, and anyone who’s met me, or who knows me, knows that I love all of you. Bless you.
The thing is that since Anselmo has entered the music industry, things have changed. There’s decidedly less racism, homophobia, etc than there was in the late ’80s, and you’re less likely to get a pass these days, especially since everyone has a smart phone these days. It was a relatively bold move for Rob Flynn to speak out against Anselmo, and since that, other musicians, including members of Darkest Hour, Every Time I Die and All Shall Perish, have also condemned the singer for his onstage declaration. Anselmo probably thought his dumb racist bullshit might annoy a few people, than get ignored, like any of the other racist things he’s said and done over the past 30 years. Instead, not only did it not get ignored, it seems like a lot of people aren’t going to forgive him this time, apology or not.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/gShmJV2BSr0[/youtube]
