A fan wearing a banana suit has publicly criticized hardcore band End It after the group allegedly encouraged audience members to tear off his costume during a show in Toronto last Friday (June 5).
The incident occurred at a venue in Toronto when the Baltimore-based hardcore band singled out the attendee, with frontman Akil Godsey questioning his choice of attire.
Footage from the night shows Godsey pointing at the fan and accusing him of seeking attention. "Banana guy, come to the front. Fuck are you doing, my n****?" he said from the stage. When some in the crowd cheered, the singer responded, "No, no, no, no, no. You don’t get rewarded for doing that shit. He wanted the attention and now he has it."
The band's bassist then added, "And now everyone has to kill you," before Godsey offered the setlist to anyone willing to "strip the banana" and remarked, "I’m just saying! You was asking for attention, now you got it!"
After the show, the fan shared photos on Instagram Stories showing his damaged costume and expressed frustration. "People have been trying to dim my sparkle my entire life. It sucks, but I’m used to it," he wrote. "I’ve surfed hundreds of people in this suit, all genders, all ages, safely. Especially, a lot of first timers that felt safe to approach me for their first surf."
Addressing End It directly, he said, "@enditbaltmore two of your band members crossed the line…and I’m obligated to speak on it. Fuck the police? While policing what people wear? The message last night; Conform or get called out, exactly the opposite of what hardcore is supposed to be. I was an unwilling participant, attacked and clothing removed at the direction of a band I paid to see."
End It has not publicly responded, and their Facebook page appears to have been taken down. Additionally, the band has been removed from the lineup for an upcoming European tour with Hatebreed and Life Of Agony.
Other musicians have rallied in support of the banana-costumed fan. Canadian punk rockers The OBGMs wrote, "Dressed like a banana, a zucchini, a tomato… show up as you are. You are welcome here. We invite you in. We lift each other up here." Escuela Grind also offered a free gift to the first fans who show up to their Dusseldorf show in banana suits.
End It's U.S. tour concluded last weekend (June 8), and they are scheduled to resume performances in Germany this Friday (June 12).