05/05/2006
Pete Wentz in Battle with a Wingnut Mom
Pete Wentz of the band Fall Out Boy is back in the news, but not for falling out of his pants this time. Some comments he made about tolerance at a concert in Charlotte have put him in a war of words with a bigot mom.
The mom sent a letter to Wentz which he posted on his website. It reads, in part, "The ticket said 'all ages,' and your band was very foul-mouthed and anti-morals. Charlotte is not the demoralized city that liberal San Francisco and other cities across the North and West are. I had looked forward to this concert with my girls for months [and] I didn't spend over $200 on gas, food and, unfortunately, shirts for you to give your own personal political testimony. ... This was a concert, not some liberal homosexual rally...I am not the only parent with morals that had children at this concert ... your responsibility was to sing your songs. When you opened your mouth to talk, you blew it. Here's to your band being just another Spice Girls, looking back and remembering the good times and 15 minutes of fame, because you [underestimated] who pays your bills. By the way, my children will not be a part of your sick idea of family."
So what were the words that so irked this bigot mom?
Wentz replies: "The only thing I said in Charlotte was, 'You can leave this show and say, 'I think this guy is an arrogant jerk,' or think, 'This band is better than this one,' because these are your opinions. The only thing we consider unacceptable is for you to engage in sexist, racist or homophobic behavior. If you do, we don't want you as a fan. Return our merch and leave.''
Wentz continued:
"I have a mouth like a sailor, it frustrated my mother growing up. I try my best to be the best person I can be. I want to be a good role model for younger kids. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs. I censor myself the best I can, but at the same time, I am not going to change in order to simply make myself more lucrative. I encourage fans of our band to grow up to become good people and to change the world. Unfortunately, I don't believe that treating other people as inhuman is acceptable. If that is offensive to you, I apologize, but we don't want you to be part of our fanbase. [Our show] is not a liberal homosexual rally, but at the same time, it will never be a Ku Klux Klan rally. We don't need to sell tickets that badly."
Bravo to Wentz and Fall Out Boy. It's refreshing to see an attitude like his. I hope the mother's kids listen up.
Posted 9:40 AM EST by Andy Towle in Music | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Yeah, That mom should have checked the music first if she is going to be like that. Someone in my extended not immediate family has the last name Wentz. Pete Wentz could be related to them. I think it would be sort of strange if it were true. Oh and a Parental Advisory label should have been on those CDs. Also a warning sign that says"No one under the age of 13or maybe 15." Well certainly not 10 year olds. That is bad. Cursing is a bad habit.
Posted by: Jenny Vaughn | Jul 7, 2007 7:31:34 PM
Well Pete said he was sorry and meant it. So that is that. Nothing more here. Leave it alone. I support Pete Wentz 100%. Although I do wish that he watches his mouth. Being honest is good too. So since Pete is that I support him 100%.
Posted by: Jenny Vaughn | Jul 7, 2007 7:36:24 PM
Iam very gald pete spoke the truth,all he waz doing wa making a point and tring to reach out to us is that really a bad thing.Well you go pete
Posted by: val | Jul 17, 2007 10:57:06 AM
I'm glad Pete Wentz spoke the truth. His mother may not like what he does and says but everyone has their own personal opinion! She spoke hers and insulted him and he spoke his as a come back. And for all you posers as fans and for the people who hate FOB, Whatever!
Posted by: Sel | Jul 20, 2007 11:38:34 PM
yuo are so hott it's not even funny!my friends and i are likr in liv with you!<3 bye<3<3<3<3<3<3
Posted by: leana | Sep 4, 2007 9:59:51 PM
omfg!i love your artical last month on 'blender'(pete).did you really get a tatoo on ur dick?if u did,that is so fuckin awsome!im goin to have to check that out.oh,and im really happy that you and ashley's relationship is great.its cool that her mother really likes you alot.well,i got to go pick up my girlfriend.she is so hot!oh,and yeah,a am a bisexualy too,so i agree w/u.there is nothin wrong with them.well,bye!
love ur almost biggest fan,
merissa hisquierdo
P.S,check out my tagged page,ur all over it!
Posted by: fall out girl | Sep 6, 2007 5:58:26 PM
OMG I love Pete I know everything but where he lives and what his email is but if someone has it I'll do anything for it!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Caitlin | Sep 28, 2007 9:19:12 PM
Ok.first things first.I have a sidekick.its not all that great.who the fuck is desperate enuf to hack a sidekick.don't you have better shit to do??????secondly.this mom needs to back the fuck up off pete and his clan of sexy ass boys before I cut her.I aint joking.thirdly.and finally.I have a worse mouth that pete I can promise you.its like I have fucking turetts.so if I go on stage and be like "fuck all moms or fuck authority" is she gonna be like you're just a lesbian freak and I will never evereverevr listen to your band again!!! And I would say"you know wat cunt licker? Get on my level and we can settle this shit" and ill get my scenester friends and shenk that bible thumping cunt
Posted by: mary | Oct 20, 2007 9:44:11 AM
i think that mary is a slut and i love pete he is so sexy and hot and he is not a les and he should not marry aslee simpson cause she is a slut and a les and she does not deserve you pete i do you suck balls ahlee
Posted by: courtney | Nov 3, 2007 3:30:53 PM
I realy dont understand what your MOM is talking about and your a really nice guy. P.S. How do you get somebody to like you because I really really really really like this one boy at my school we talk alot but Im not sure if he really likes me.
Posted by: shelby | Nov 9, 2007 5:42:50 PM
I realy dont understand what your MOM is talking about and your a really nice guy. P.S. How do you get somebody to like you because I really really really really like this one boy at my school we talk alot but Im not sure if he really likes me.
Posted by: shelby | Nov 9, 2007 5:44:16 PM
Pete YOU ARE THE FITTEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD!!!! i love you xxxx
Posted by: lou | Mar 29, 2008 8:54:37 AM