White nationalist leader Richard Spencer was kicked out of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday.
But before he was, he jokingly stated that “Depeche Mode is the official band of the alt-right,” according to New York Magazine’s Olivia Nuzzi.
Spencer later clarified on Twitter that he was “joking obviously” about Depeche Mode being the “official band” of the racist movement, but also made clear he has been a “lifelong” fan. Spencer has stated his love of Depeche Mode on Reddit in the past as well.
We reached out to Depeche Mode’s publicist, who made it clear the band wants absolutely nothing to do with Richard Spencer or anything he stands for.
“Depeche Mode has no ties to Richard Spencer or the alt-right and does not support the alt-right movement,” the band’s representative said in a statement.
Spencer, who the CPAC’s organizers called “repugnant” on Thursday, was famously punched in the face by a protester near President Donald Trump’s inauguration last month, leading to a national conversation about whether it is ethical to punch a Nazi.
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