A series of racist, misogynistic, and homophobic comments DIIV bassist Devin Ruben Perez posted on 4Chan (a.k.a. the cesspool of the Internet) came to light over the weekend, and the Brooklyn band has since issued various statements condemning their bandmate’s actions. A Tumblr called Sexism in Music compiled a bunch of Perez’s hateful comments, including the one where he called Perfect Pussy’s Meredith Graves a “bitch” and said she was unattractive (“1/10”). In another post about Zomby, Perez wrote, “that nigger is the biggest troll ever.” He also calls Jake Gyllenhaal the “biggest fucking faggot,” and makes an anti-Semitic joke as well.
In another post on 4Chan Sunday, Perez kind of — but not really — apologized for his comments.
Welp, I don’t know. I honestly don’t regret saying any of the stuff that I did. No fucks given at all. It was all the truth really. I do regret calling Zomby a nigger (i’m part black anyway) and going off with that Burnstein goyim joke but I guess I was in 100% 4chan lingo mode.
What do? I’m not a homophobe, racist, or misogynist at all. Did Meredith Graves post this shit herself or was it someone else?
DIIV frontman Zachary Cole Smith responded in a lengthy series of tweets in the days after the Tumblr post went up harshly rebuking Perez’s comments and rejecting his “4Chan lingo mode” excuse.
I will never EVER tolerate sexism, racism, homophobia, bullying, or bigotry of any kind. I’m doing everything to get to the bottom of this
— DIIV (@DIIV) December 14, 2014
Yes, I understand it is 4chan “lingo”. But everybody who types that word knows what it really means and how much violence is attached to it.
— DIIV (@DIIV) December 14, 2014
The band send a full statement to Pitchfork on Sunday apologizing for Perez’s posts and lambasting 4Chan. Smith and Perez are “discussing what happened and his future in the band.”
Cole doesn’t stand for any bigotry, hatred, sexism racism or homophobia, especially when it’s manifest in his own band. Cole and Devin are discussing what happened and his future in the band. Devin acknowledges what he did is very wrong. 4chan is a poisonous place. It’s the bowels of the internet. A place where Devin lost sight of what’s remotely appropriate and what isn’t. Racial slurs and sexist remarks are practically what comprise the entirety of the site. It’s important to examine the context of his comments, not to excuse them, but rather because it is a place that breeds, proliferates, and encourages dark and violent ideologies disguised as humor.
It needs to be exposed. It’s lurking just beneath the surface and it’s everywhere. Every journalist covering this story has a responsibility to expose 4chan for what it is. But regardless of the context, what Devin said is inexcusable. It will not be tolerated in the band or anywhere. But ultimately Cole and Devin are very close friends so this is a very hard thing for him to swallow, seeing such unexpected behavior like this from such a close friend. It is not being tolerated and is being dealt with right now.
In his most recent tweet, Smith wrote that he doesn’t “want this to kill the band I’ve worked so hard at building.”
