Kyle Rittenhouse’s appointment as a special guest at the forthcoming Shell Shock II music festival in Orlando has provoked substantial criticism. Evergreen Terrace, the event’s headliner, withdrew in protest, along with seven other musicians. Rittenhouse’s attendance at the festival sparked controversy, as he was acquitted of charges for the murder of two protestors during a 2020 racial justice demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Evergreen Terrace issued a statement on social media, announcing their decision to withdraw from the event. The statement stated, “We will not support an event that capitalizes on the pseudo-celebrity of murderers like Kyle Rittenhouse.” The band declined to participate in the event, despite the festival organizers’ offer to exclude Rittenhouse. They cited other affiliated entities with which they disagreed.
Seven additional bands, such as Southpaw and Let Me Bleed, also withdrew, with some expressing a desire to avoid political involvement. Festival founder Tyler Hoover responded by criticizing the bands for promoting “cancel culture,” accusing them of neglecting their punk roots and failing to advocate for free expression.
The festival, which is intended to raise funds for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is still scheduled to occur on October 19. The new headliner has been revealed as a Slipknot cover band. Rittenhouse’s precise function as a “special guest” at the event is still uncertain.
Despite asserting self-defense during the violent unrest in Kenosha, Rittenhouse, who is now 20 years old, was acquitted of all charges related to the shooting in 2021.