On Wednesday (October 25), a Medium post revealed that Death From Above's Jesse Keeler's may have connections to the "alt-right" — with the author pointing to Keeler's appearance on right-winger Gavin McInnes' podcast, hanging out with McInnes on the night of the U.S. election and formerly being listed as a member of the McInnes-founded Proud Boys group. Now, Keeler has responded to the allegations and clarified his relationship with McInnes.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Keeler states that any claims (including those by McInnes himself) that he was ever a member of the Proud Boys are "completely false." Keeler insists, "I would never join that group."
He does, however, note that his relationship with McInnes is real. McInnes infamously founded Vice Magazine, and Keeler explains that he first met the guy in 2003 or 2004 by way of the Vice record label that released Death from Above's music in the United States.
Keeler says that he remained "loosely acquainted" with McInnes over the years, perceiving much of his work and communication to be in line with the "wreckless comedy style" he'd implemented at Vice, and says that their relationship mainly consisted of making small talk about their shared experiences of being dads.
"In short, I gave him the benefit of the doubt," he writes.
Keeler does own up to accepting an invitation to appear on McInnes' video podcast and admits that he "regrettably" attended his talk show and party on election night with "a morbid curiosity."
Following the election, Keeler says he noticed that McInnes was increasingly promoting violence and radical politics that "I absolutely do not agree with." Keeler maintains that he is "anti-war and anti-violence," then goes on to detail his own experience as a mixed-race person growing up in an immigrant family in Canada.
Keeler closes his Facebook post by saying he never meant to mix music and politics, and apologizes to his family, friends and fans for putting them in the position of being caught between "reality and fiction."
Keeler says he's "heartbroken" over his actions, and ends with a plea: "To a fault it seems that I give people the benefit of the doubt, and I hope that you will give me the same in return."
Read Keeler's full response below.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Keeler states that any claims (including those by McInnes himself) that he was ever a member of the Proud Boys are "completely false." Keeler insists, "I would never join that group."
He does, however, note that his relationship with McInnes is real. McInnes infamously founded Vice Magazine, and Keeler explains that he first met the guy in 2003 or 2004 by way of the Vice record label that released Death from Above's music in the United States.
Keeler says that he remained "loosely acquainted" with McInnes over the years, perceiving much of his work and communication to be in line with the "wreckless comedy style" he'd implemented at Vice, and says that their relationship mainly consisted of making small talk about their shared experiences of being dads.
"In short, I gave him the benefit of the doubt," he writes.
Keeler does own up to accepting an invitation to appear on McInnes' video podcast and admits that he "regrettably" attended his talk show and party on election night with "a morbid curiosity."
Following the election, Keeler says he noticed that McInnes was increasingly promoting violence and radical politics that "I absolutely do not agree with." Keeler maintains that he is "anti-war and anti-violence," then goes on to detail his own experience as a mixed-race person growing up in an immigrant family in Canada.
Keeler closes his Facebook post by saying he never meant to mix music and politics, and apologizes to his family, friends and fans for putting them in the position of being caught between "reality and fiction."
Keeler says he's "heartbroken" over his actions, and ends with a plea: "To a fault it seems that I give people the benefit of the doubt, and I hope that you will give me the same in return."
Read Keeler's full response below.