Five Finger Death Punch bassist/vocalist Chris Kael has spoken out about the recent “banana man” incident at a live show by hardcore band End It, as reported by Beardo and Weirdo.
The incident involved a concertgoer dressed in a banana costume who was singled out from the stage by End It frontman Akil Godsey. Godsey offered up the band’s setlist to whoever tore apart the costume. Kael addressed the situation, expressing his views on fan respect and community within the metal and hardcore scenes.
“I mean, hardcore is known to be tough, and to get upset over a banana costume?” Kael said. “We are all family. Whether it’s a metal show, whether it’s a hardcore show, people like him, he’s paid you money to come out and see the show. Have some respect and love for your fans coming out that are doing that, you know?”
Kael went on to reflect on the broader purpose live shows serve for fans.
“I mean, everybody’s working hard, going through life,” he continued. “You come to those shows as an escape from all that other stuff, man. And then to have to deal with that, oh, it lit me up so bad.”
The Five Finger Death Punch member also emphasized his love for both genres and the community they share. He noted that the incident prompted him to take action.
“I love hardcore music, I love metal. I love the community and to see something like that happen to someone in our community, I was outraged,” Kael said. “So, I wanted to make sure we got a chance to get on here and talk to you about your experience and turn it around for you and get you out there to celebrate in Toronto with us.”
Kael’s comments highlight ongoing conversations around fan treatment and mutual respect within the metal and hardcore communities.
The incident that sparked Kael’s reaction took place on June 5, 2026, at End It’s Toronto show. The fallout has since rippled across the broader rock and hardcore world, drawing condemnation from fans, media, and fellow artists alike.
As Loudwire reported, the fan — later identified as Scott — was wearing a full banana costume when End It frontman Akil Godsey singled him out from the stage. Godsey offered the band’s setlist to anyone who would “strip the banana.” The crowd responded by physically grabbing and tackling Scott, tearing apart his costume in the process. Godsey’s on-stage remarks were captured on video, with the frontman telling the fan, “Banana guy, come to the front. Fuck are you doing, my n—a? No, no, no, no, no. You don’t get rewarded for doing that shit.”
Loudwire also covered Scott’s response, in which he described himself as “an unwilling participant” and stated that the incident was “exactly the opposite of what hardcore is supposed to be.” He said he walked away with only minor scrapes, but his costume was ruined. Scott also noted that he had worn the banana suit at many shows before without issue. He had safely crowd-surfed with “hundreds of people” in it, including first-timers who felt comfortable approaching him because of the lighthearted costume.
Scott also had a direct message for the band. “Practice your stage show before you deliver it,” he said, adding, “There was no pretext to it that I understood.” His words underscored a broader frustration with how the situation was handled — not just the physical targeting, but the lack of any apparent justification from the band.
In a Punkerton Records post, the label stated that the band “owes Scott a real apology” and described the fan as having been “singled out” while the audience was encouraged to target him “even violently.” The post added further weight to the growing chorus of voices calling on End It to take accountability for what unfolded on stage that night.
