Twenty One Pilots' Tyler Joseph faces backlash over "tone-deaf" joke
3 September 2020, 11:46
Tyler and Jenna Joseph play Who’s More Likely Too?
Tyler Joseph has since apologised in an extensive Twitter thread about mental health and Black Lives Matter.
Twenty One Pilots frontman Tyler Joseph is coming under fire after making a joke about fans asking him to use his platform more.
Yesterday (Sep 3), Tyler took to Twitter to post a set of photos of him wearing a pair of white platform trainers, alongside the caption: "you guys keep asking me to use my platforms. feels good to dust these bad boys off." The tweet appeared to be a joke about the fact that TØP fans have recently been asking Tyler to use his platform to speak out on important issues.
Given the fact that Tyler still hadn't spoken about Black Lives Matter or other pressing issues, the tweet received criticism online. Now, Tyler has responded to the backlash and spoken out about mental health and BLM in a series of tweets.
Following Tyler's initial tweet, one fan responded: "you look good but this caption is really tone deaf and insensitive. you’ve been known to not like to talk about “politics” but are human rights really that political? no, they are not. as i am sure you’ve seen petitions going around: please spread them. use your platform for real."
Another person added: "maybe... actually use your platform? no? okay".
you look good but this caption is really tone deaf and insensitive. you’ve been known to not like to talk about “politics” but are human rights really that political? no, they are not. as i am sure you’ve seen petitions going around: please spread them. use your platform for real
— ryan (@CHEETAHDEMA) September 2, 2020
maybe... actually use your platform? no? okay
— emel (@taxicabstruce) September 2, 2020
maybe not something to ya know.. joke about
— tors (@ICEC0LDPOOL) September 2, 2020
fr though. ty we love you but you know this isnt what we meant. you had time to take these pics so what's stopping you from sharing a link to a petition/carrd? i didnt get doxxed and sent death threats for this. we'll send u resources/links the LEAST u can do is rt them. please.
— paisley 15 22 (@eastisntup) September 2, 2020
no that’s actually not what we mean. we would like you to speak up on the injustice in this country
— heath 💐 (@heathoween) September 2, 2020
How about actually use your platform for shit that matters instead of being spiteful in a moment when the thousands of people looking to you to know that you care about them or anything for that matter.
— mads🌙 BLM (@ofthenight_) September 2, 2020
As opposed to directly responding to the backlash, Tyler then posted a series of tweets about mental health. He wrote: "your own mental health should always be a priority. i’m amazed at how easy it is to forget that simple fact. it’s something that can sneak up on you, then eventually you check in on it and realize it’s in really bad shape."
Tyler also drew attention to Suicide Prevention Awareness week. In an extensive thread, he tweeted: "starting September 6th is national suicide prevention awareness week. what does that mean exactly? i don’t know. but if it can get a single person’s attention at the right time, it’s everything"
your own mental health should always be a priority.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
i’m amazed at how easy it is to forget that simple fact.
it’s something that can sneak up on you, then eventually you check in on it and realize it’s in really bad shape.
i’m trying to cut through to who really needs to hear this.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
this is tough, but it’s not hopeless.
fighting for your mental health is not public, it’s not glorious, it’s not even interesting, but it’s the greatest challenge you will face.
i use music, humor, being alone, breaks from social media, family, uncomfortable and honest conversations with friends, and sometimes crying.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
a few tools, but they don’t all work for everyone. find what helps you take back ground lost.
i really don’t know if i can even handle everything that’s happening right now. the scariest place to be is when you find yourself in a spot where you can’t find an answer to the question, “what’s the point?”
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
there has to be a point.
according to the world health organization:
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds.
according to American Foundation of Suicide Prevention:
On average, there are 132 suicides per day.
mentally/emotionally, i can only carry so much, because what i do care about is so heavy, the thought of adding more on top of it makes me want to stop trying.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
but we can never stop trying.
this site, along with many others, has been a guide. it’s not perfect, but it’s the right direction.https://t.co/AEhYahsYXG
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
starting September 6th is national suicide prevention awareness week.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
what does that mean exactly? i don’t know. but if it can get a single person’s attention at the right time, it’s everything.#keepgoing
i respect all the warriors out there fighting for different causes.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
there is honor in it, purpose, and it can make our world better.
i just want to remind you what i’m fighting for:
your mental health is more important today than it ever has been.
you’re not alone.
you don’t know what someone else is going through.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
what other invisible weights they may be struggling to carry.
keep that in mind as you go about your interactions.
and take care of yourself, please.
Then, Tyler wrote: "this isn’t a notes app moment. i’m doubling down on my platform tweet. it was fantastic."
Following more backlash, Tyler tweeted: "my tweet wasn’t suppose to be about human rights. so in case you are wondering where i stand: Black Lives Matter." He continued: "i just wanted to take a moment to raise awareness about something else that has meant a lot to me for a long time. but now I see there is no room for that right now."
He also wrote: "I'm truly sorry if it hurt anyone. here is a link with a lot of great info that i stand by." The link Tyler shared is a site that includes other links to Black Lives Matter protest information, petitions to sign and places to donate to help people affected by police brutality.
this isn’t a notes app moment.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
i’m doubling down on my platform tweet.
it was fantastic.
im truly sorry if it hurt anyone.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 3, 2020
here is a link with a lot of great info that i stand by.https://t.co/ItppMmW1u8
As it stands, Tyler still hasn't deleted his initial tweet.
