A Texas black metal band apologized for throwing a severed pig head into the crowd during a recent concert and is taking heat from some fans — not on account of the horrific stunt, but for the apology.
Martyrdom was playing Friday at the Houston nightspot White Swan Live when the pig head went flying, patrons and witnesses reported on social media.
The band took responsibility for the stunt, saying "we are incredibly sorry to anyone we offended with our actions and gimmicks on stage," according to a statement to the metal news site Lambgoat.
The apology went on to specifically address any vegans and Muslims in the crowd who might have been offended by the flying pig head.
"We are a black metal band, and as part of it, we try to add a little bit of imagery and shock value to our set," the band said. "Unfortunately our act has gotten carried away and way out of hand, offending many and even harming some."
When the band went on Instagram to remind everyone of its coming gig in Austin, some fans wanted to pick a fight about the apology.
"Bending over for cancel culture. How very black metal of you guys," an Instagram follower wrote.
The band responded by asking whether the follower had a "neck beard," adding that there must be "nothing important or significant going on in your life if you keep coming back on our page and commenting."
Another Instagram user called Martyrdom "a joke" by "apologising for offending religion or vegans."
The commenter added: "Everyone in the scene laughs at you."
The band pointed out that "apologizing" is the proper U.S. spelling of the word and followed up with the sad trombone sound of "womp womp."
Representatives for the band and the club could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
Witness Danh Bui, 26, told NBC News on Thursday that when Martyrdom took the stage with a cooler on Friday night, fellow concertgoers mentioned to him that it regularly throws a severed pig head into the crowd.
"I called b---s---. I was, like, no way, no way," Bui recalled thinking at the time. "I thought it'd be fake."
But as Bui, an aspiring rapper, discovered, it was nauseatingly real.
"People were screaming. Kids were picking it up. There was cartilage and little meat pieces on people. I did not expect it," he said.
"For sure it was gross," he said. "I started dry-heaving. I had to go vomit outside."
Witness Xavier Gutierrez, 20, was horrified to see some fans bat the head around and some bite the raw meat.
"Gross, shocking. It was stuff I've never seen before," said Gutierrez, who was there to photograph a friend's band that was also playing Friday. "This was the most shocking I've ever seen. I've seen random stuff thrown around, but a pig? I don't know what's next after this that could be more shocking."
Gutierrez added: "Me and my friend and a lot of people that were near me were scared to even be around it. We saw it going over our heads and were praying that it wouldn't hit us. People were playing around with it like it was a beach ball."
Gutierrez had no issue with the apology, especially with Martyrdom's saying sorry to White Swan Live employees.
"People need to realize this was more of an apology to the venue itself, because it almost hit the sound guy, and they left a mess," Gutierrez said. "I mean, this isn't the ’90s anymore. The scene has changed."
