Guitar Pedal Company Fulltone Dropped By Retailers Over Founder’s Controversial Statements
Fulltone, a company that manufactures guitar effects pedals, has recently come under fire after the company’s founder Mike Fuller made offensive comments on social media regarding looting that took place during protests in Minneapolis over police brutality and the murder of George Floyd. Reverb announced that it has suspended sales of new Fulltone products and donating its fee from used Fulltone sales to a racial justice organization.
“What is this like night 4 of looting with 100% impunity. The pussy Mayor and Governor don’t give a shit about small businesses, and it’s never been more clear,” he wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post on June 2. He later added a comment, “Ahh I feel better, and flushed out some prissy boys who were raised to pee sitting down. Now I’ll delete.” A Fulltone fan account on Facebook shared a screenshot of an email they claim is from Fuller, which references “organized gang banger criminals” and ends, “In fact if I see you with a Fulltone pedal I will tag it and break into your house and loot it from you because it’s my free expression to do so....Right?”
“Mike Fuller’s recent comments and behavior violate our established brand values and the principles in our Community Rules for Sellers and Buyers,” Reverb’s statement reads. “We have prohibitions against any kind of racial discrimination, hate speech and any threat or encouragement of violence.” Fuller posted an apology that he later deleted on Facebook, Guitar.com reports.
Guitar Center tweeted on June 5 that they were “no longer doing business with Fulltone and are moving quickly to remove all Fulltone products from our stores and websites.” Fuller later claimed that he cut ties with Guitar Center in March.
Jason Isbell, blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, and Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray are among the artists who have tweeted plans to boycott Fulltone going forward.
Pitchfork has reached out to Fulltone.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
