Inside the tour controversy America’s RejectsAidan Ellaz Holmes, frontman of Dealer, has released a statement to address the ongoing accusations against him and the controversy rocking the Metalcore scene.
A response to accusations and controversy
The controversy surrounding the tour America’s Rejects d'Attila brought to light allegations against Aidan Ellaz Holmes, dating back to 2018. At the time, these accusations led to his departure from Alpha Wolf, although no charges were brought due to lack of evidence. Two years later, Holmes was again the subject of criticism after several members of Dealer left, denouncing abusive behavior.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Holmes denied the accusations and criticized what he described as a taste for hypocrisy and destruction within the music scene. He wrote: “I'm not a 'rapist.' That's all. I pose no danger to anyone.”
Holmes also defended his return to music, explaining that he left the stage for a while to reflect and try to rebuild himself: “I don't want to give up my passion for music because people I don't know or haven't seen in years don't want me to continue.”
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A controversy that divides the scene
The tour attracted heavy criticism from artists such as Alpha Wolf's John Arnold and Fit For A King's Ryan O'Leary. Arnold notably described the tour as a “rapist abuser tour”, while Oceano withdrew from the event, with their singer Adam Warren also announcing his departure from the group.
Holmes responded to these criticisms by highlighting the double standards in the music scene: “Why is it 'all or nothing' for me, but others are spared despite overwhelming evidence?” He also denounced jokes made on social networks, which he considers disrespectful to victims of violence: “Why joke about such serious things?”
Dealer and Attila's tour continues
Despite the criticism, the tour America’s Rejects is maintained with Dealer, Attila and Nathan James. Chris Fronzak, singer of Attila, affirmed that Oceano's departure would not compromise the progress of the tour and reacted to the criticism with a pithy comment: “I don’t really care!”
The tour will begin on March 4, 2025 in Destin, Florida and will continue to numerous U.S. cities. As of yet, no replacement for Oceano has been announced.
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