Fulltone Pedals are no longer being sold in Guitar Center, after the owner of the company thought it would be a good idea to offer his opinion on the ongoing protests going on all over the world.
"What is this like night 4 of looting with 100% impunity. The pussy Mayor and Governor don’t give a shit about small businesses, and it’s never been more clear," Fuller wrote, and followed it in a comment with, "Ahh I feel better, and flushed out some prissy boys who were raised to pee sitting down. Now I’ll delete."
After a user emailed the company to complain, he got a response from Fuller himself, based on a screenshot posted to a Facebook fan page for the pedals. Fuller's response read "I am begging you to sell your pedals because you actually don’t deserve them. You are actually so racist that you believe the Good people who are protesting are the same as the Organized gang banger criminals who are looting ‘storefronts.' Those ‘storefronts’ are good hardworking people’s lives and livelihoods. I’m fact if I see you with a Fulltone pedal I will tag it and break into your house and loot it from you, because it’s my free expression to do so… right?"'
??♂️??♂️
Posted by Fulltone Pedals on Tuesday, June 2, 2020
The fan page commended the post and so did other musicians, like blink-182's Mark Hoppus, who tweeted, "Never buying another Fulltone pedal and will find a good way to get rid of those I already own."
Never buying another Fulltone pedal and will find a good way to get rid of those I already own. https://t.co/cxMdZrbkgp
— black lives matter (@markhoppus) June 4, 2020
Soon other artists announced they would stop using the pedals, which eventually got the attention of Guitar Center, the States' largest music retail chain.
Guitar Center stated "We are no longer doing business with Fulltone and are moving quickly to remove all Fulltone products from our stores and websites." A few days prior, Guitar Center released a statement in support of Black Lives Matter.
Fuller issued an apology, in a since-deleted Facebook post:
I want to address a couple of things I posted recently that have rightfully pissed off a bunch of people. A couple of days ago I made a comment about the mayor and Governor being pussies for allowing looting.
The rest of that sentiment that did not get shared is ‘…they were arresting the good people protesting and allowing professional crews to loot with impunity.’ Adding that doesn’t make it better, but I do believe that no one should destroy another person’s property…I can’t wrap my head around that one.
But the real question should be: what is privileged white guy doing opening his mouth about this, let alone throwing gas on a sensitive subject? I’ve been thinking a lot about his, and I believe the answer is insensitivity, anger, and most importantly Fear.
Fear from just coming out of this COVID quarantine and it’s affects on business, and, fear or many things, including fears of lack of relevancy, aging, and fear of losing what you think is yours. Which is a phallacy [sic] in itself, because I, not owed anything. Fear of being looted and harmed. In my case, I think I’ve been in fear for a very long time, and fear can makes people say stupid things.
I’ll end now by saying I apologize to anybody I’ve offended, and believe that anyone who abuses or harms another person should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, that includes cops, and I shouldn’t speak to this subject any more unless I’m out there doing something positive, which is not the case right now.
Fuller then added a follow up stating ""To my supporters who say 'WTF, you didn't say anything wrong, it's ok to be anti looting' I suggest this: If that's your (my) main (or only) concern then you're (I'm) ignoring the way more important issue of human life and dignity."
The posts can be seen below.
Check out black-owned pedal company Dogman Devices. https://t.co/N6bmAl8s4w I’ve not used them but they seem to be good and fulltone has always made overpriced junk. https://t.co/4kF6Q1bgaE
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) June 4, 2020
[via Brooklyn Vegan]
