by GWAR’s Blöthar recently addressed criticism directed at the band’s political views in a statement shared on 107.7 The Bone.
The statement focused on defending free speech and dismissing those who take the band’s political stance too seriously.
“Anybody that takes GWAR seriously enough to come after us for our political views is really stupid,” Blöthar said. “I mean, look, you should be able to say what the f*ck it is you want to say.”
He emphasized the band’s commitment to free expression without censorship.
“GWAR’s not out there applauding anybody, shutting anybody down,” he continued. “Because that’s not what we’re about.”
The comment reflects the band’s longstanding approach to controversy and artistic freedom.
The backlash stems from GWAR’s 2025 Riot Fest performance, where the band staged theatrical beheadings of political figures Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Metal Insider reported that Blöthar emphasized their act is satirical and absurdist art, not political incitement or normalization of violence.
The performance provoked significant conservative outrage amplified by right-wing social media accounts. Accounts such as Libs of TikTok branded the performance “incitement” and accused GWAR of promoting real political violence, Louder Sound noted. This reflects broader cultural conflicts over free speech and artistic expression in today’s polarized environment.
“The idea that GWAR is normalizing violence is patently absurd,” Blöthar stated. “We’re not millionaires that are afraid of what people are going to say when they see what we do. It’s a cartoon, it’s Looney Tunes. It’s a parody of violence.”
GWAR has a long history of performing violent, theatrical acts targeting political figures from both major US parties. The band has staged playful “executions” of presidents from Ronald Reagan to Joe Biden, as well as other global leaders like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, Consequence detailed. This demonstrates impartial political satire rather than partisan bias.
Blöthar firmly defended the band’s tradition of blending horror, comedy, and social commentary through over-the-top, blood-soaked theatrics. “It’s trying to make violence into a spectacle and show humanity’s absolute absurdity,” he explained. “That’s what GWAR is, it’s absurdism.”
