Bands leave metal festival because Kyle Rittenhouse is a guest

(TND) — Several metal rock bands canceled their participation at a music festival in Florida after it was announced that Kyle Rittenhouse would be a special guest.

Shell Shock II is a charity event that purports to raise money and bring awareness to the issue for first responders and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Orlando festival is set to begin in just over a month, with Evergreen Terrace as the headliner.

Evergreen Terrace was the popular attraction until they pulled out of the festival, writing in a Facebook post: “We will not join an event that promotes an alleged murderer like Kyle Rittenhouse.”

Other bands followed Evergreen Terrace's example, including Southpaw, Let Me Bleed and American Hollow.

Southpaw said “that's not what we signed up for” and originally agreed to play the festival because it raised money for a good cause.

In August 2020, Rittenhouse shot three men after traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to protect stores from looters following protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Of the three people he shot, two died. Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges in 2021 after claiming self-defense.

The social media post announcing Rittenhouse as a special guest at the music festival was deleted following backlash, but was viewable on Reddit.

SiC, a tribute band, was announced as the festival's new headliner on Wednesday.

Tyler Hoover, the festival's founder, criticized the bands for their exit and accused them of promoting cancel culture during his “Antihero Podcast” show.

The metal music festival is still scheduled to take place on October 19th. It's unclear what role Rittenhouse will play at the festival.