Frontman for the iconic heavy metal band Pantera, Phil Anselmo, came under fire after a fan-shot video surfaced of him performing a Nazi salute during a Dimebash concert, Spin reported. The incident occurred during the annual tribute concert to late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell at Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood over the weekend, and Anselmo refused to apologize for what many fans considered as a racist gesture.
A video titled "Phil Anselmo is a Racist! Ruins Dimebash 2016" was uploaded by user "Chris R" and was recorded after the performance of the Pantera hit "Walk." In the clip, Anselmo stood at the edge of the stage and brought his right arm across his shoulder before extending it forward which looked like the gesture that was used by the Nazi party to salute Adolf Hitler in 1930s Germany. Anselmo is also seen in the clip yelling, "White Power."
"I originally cut this from my first post of WALK but i feel people deserve to see this!" Chris R wrote in the video's description on YouTube. "A very sad moment and to me ruined the night! This is not what Pantera is about!!! Absolutely uncalled for and I can see why Vinny Paul wants nothing to do with this man. Phil Anselmo you are a Racist prick!!"
Anselmo allegedly responded to the YouTube post via the Housecore Records YouTube account, according to Loudwire, and he refused to apologize for what he said was an "inside joke."
"Ok folks, I'll own this one, but dammit, I was joking, and the 'inside joke of the night' was because we were drinking f--king white wine, hahaha...," the Housecore Records YouTube comment read. "Of all f--king things. Some of y'all need to thicken up your skin. There's plenty of f--kers to pick on with a more realistic agenda. I f--king love everyone, I f--king loathe everyone, and that's that. No apologies from me. PHA '16."
Watch the YouTube clip and read Anselmo's alleged response below.
