DIIV release official statement on Devin Ruben Perez’s abusive remarks

Yesterday, DIY reported that DIIV bassist Devin Ruben Perez had been accused of making offensive comments on the public forum 4chan. In the immediate aftermath, band leader Zachary Cole Smith responded on Twitter saying he was “fucking disgusted”, and now the band have issued an official statement, viewable below.

Initially, Cole took to Twitter to state that “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.” Devin also issued a response online, saying: “I’m not sexist, racist or a misogynist and anyone who knows me knows that. I just said some dumb shit on an anime message board.”

Over the weekend, Cole spoke out about his frustrations at the media (“All media who covers this is implicated in propagating spewings of an underbelly internet culture who r numb to the violence of their words”) and direct messages that he’d been receiving online (“I’m disgusted and deeply upset by the bullying I’ve experienced today.”)

I just want to make music and make people happy. I don't want this to kill the band I've worked so hard at building.
— DIIV (@DIIV) December 15, 2014

A representative of DIIV has issued the following statement, which Pitchfork reports in full to say:

“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.”

I'm disgusted and deeply upset by the bullying I've experienced today. I tried my best to be open, honest, and available.
— DIIV (@DIIV) December 15, 2014