To cite one social media consumer, GWAR are equal-opportunity beheaders. Over time, the shock metallic band has staged fake executions of each president of the final 4 many years (Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr., Obama, Trump, and Biden), in addition to Hillary Clinton, Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, and even Jesus Christ. Chances are high, in the event you’re a well-known particular person, they’ve killed you onstage. The band’s set at Riot Fest this weekend was no totally different, as they beheaded Elon Musk and stabbed Trump.
This time, although, MAGA picked up on GWAR’s antics and is crying foul. Each conservative-leaning web sites Brietbart and New York Publish have revealed articles on the band’s efficiency at Riot Fest, whereas movies of GWAR circulated extensively on X/Twitter all through the weekend. “Hear I do know they do that to each chief and even did Obama however after what occurred with Charlie Kirk final week it’s simply retarded timing,” one consumer complained. Libs of TikTok known as GWAR’s efficiency an act of “incitement,” including that, “Democrats can’t assist themselves. They love selling violence.”
A consultant for GWAR pushed towards the New York Publish’s article an announcement: “Normalizing violence? People don’t want GWAR for that. There may be nothing regular in regards to the Looney Toon violence acted out on a GWAR stage. GWAR is absurdist spectacle. GWAR is to violence what the New York Publish is to journalism. Ridiculous.”
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Riot Fest additionally joined in mocking the outrage over GWAR’s efficiency: “Like I do know this can be a rage bait engagement farming twitter account, however ‘GWAR crossed a significant line’ is likely one of the funniest fucking issues I’ve ever heard,” the competition wrote on X.
The kicker? The viral clip that set off the controversy might have been planted from inside GWAR’s personal orbit. The clip was the very first publish from an account known as @hottakekaren, whose bio reads “GWAR’s greatest fan.” The publish tagged @RiotFest, @GWAR, and @ElonMusk, whereas subsequent uploads from the identical account tagged @realdonaldtrump, @JDVance, and even @FBI. Whether or not it was the band, Riot Fest, or a faithful fan, the stunt clearly labored. If the aim was to rile up MAGA and provides GWAR a burst of viral consideration, take into account it mission achieved.
Noticed a good friend’s video from Riot Fest—GWAR mock-beheaded Elon Musk on stage. That’s not edgy, it’s grotesque and reckless and normalizes violence towards an actual particular person. This isn’t okay. Riot Fest and GWAR crossed a significant line. #RiotFest #GWAR #ElonMusk @RiotFest @gwar @elonmusk @X pic.twitter.com/ngr0GRVbP9
— karen (@hottakekaren) September 20, 2025