Headlining band makes big announcement after pulling out of festival over 'murderer' Kyle Rittenhouse

After pulling out of a music festival when they learned that right-wing favorite Kyle Rittenhouse had been invited to perform, Evergreen Terrace announced that they would be organizing a benefit show.

“Orlando, see you soon,” the band told fans in a Facebook post. “We are currently organizing a show with the bands who dropped out of Shell Shock Fest because they were caught off guard. All proceeds from Evergreen go to an affiliated veterans organization. Updates soon.”

The band added: “We play shows, not rallies.”

The bands and the headliner of an upcoming music festival in Orlando, Florida pulled out of the lineup after learning that Rittenhouse had been invited as a guest.

Headlining the “Shell Shock II” festival, metalcore band Evergreen Terrace announced in a social media post on Saturday that the band would no longer be attending the Oct. 17 festival due to Rittenhouse's performance. Loudwire reported that a Slipknot cover band will now replace them as headliners.

Rittenhouse shot three men during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020, killing two of them and wounding the third. Rittenhouse was acquitted after claiming he fired in self-defense after the men attacked him. Since then, he has used his case to make money as a right-wing hero.

“Evergreen Terrace has always supported and continues to support philanthropic events for veterans, education about post-traumatic stress disorder, child poverty and more, but we will not join an event where murderers like Kyle Rittenhouse capitalize on their pseudo-celebrity,” Evergreen Terrace said in its statement.

“Unfortunately, we failed to do our due diligence in this particular event. Even after they offered to pull Kyle from the event, we discovered several affiliated companies that we simply disagreed with,” the statement continued.

Loudwire reported that at least three other bands – Southpaw, Let Me Bleed and American Hollow – also pulled out of the festival.

Comments on the band's Facebook post were mostly positive, although some trolls kept using the same tired one-liner: “Who are you?”

“I am a grandmother. I don't know your band, but I applaud your decision. Although he was acquitted, he should not be viewed as a celebrity or someone to be admired. I’m going to listen to some of your music now.”

“Thank you for standing up for what is right.”

“‘We Play Shows, Not Rallies’ will look great on a t-shirt.”

“Keep it up. Fans will respect you. Forget these idiots.”