Skillet frontman John Cooper recently did an interview with Real Talk With Zuby. He discussed the backlash he’s faced for voicing his opinions usually having to do with his faith or his views on hot-button social and political issues.
“We’re, thank God, a successful band,” he said. “But, man, the intense backlash about standing up for what you believe, if you’re on the conservative side, or even just the libertarian side, or … they don’t even like Elon Musk anymore. They don’t like Tulsi Gabbard anymore. They hate RFK with a passion now. I mean, it’s really insane. And I think that part of the not having the conversation thing is to do with this fake tolerance because they really believe if I even have a conversation with you, I’m legitimizing a N*zi.”
A few years back, Cooper criticized Rage Against The Machine for allegedly doing vaccine-only shows, a claim that guitarist Tom Morello has denied. “I remember I got in a lot of trouble in 2021 because I was, I think rightly, making fun of Rage Against The Machine. ‘Cause Rage Against The Machine’s anti-government and they were doing these, like, vax-only shows. And I just was, like, ‘Well, it’s just crazy that me, the Christian rock star, that I’m the punk rock revolutionary now.'” Cooper said at the time that Rage Against The Machine is “government rock now.”
Earlier this year, Morello posted on social media: “While I am a big supporter of science, hear my words: NO Rage fan was EVER required to present anything other than a ticket to see the band.”
Cooper’s full interview can be seen below.
