The social media accounts of many music acts have gone dark on what the industry has dubbed "Blackout Tuesday" in response to the death of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer last week.
The initiative is meant to "disconnect from work and reconnect with our community," according to a statement. "As gatekeepers of the culture, it's our responsibility to not only come together to celebrate the wins, but also hold each other up during loss."
Before the music industry hit pause for "Blackout Tuesday," artists from all genres took to social media to share their thoughts on Floyd's death, the protests his murder sparked, and racism in general. They include Beyoncé, Lizzo, Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Thomas Rhett, Camila Cabello, Lady Gaga and Amy Lee of Evanescence.
MORE: Music Stars Speak Out About George Floyd's Death, Racism
In an Instagram post on Monday, Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan said he was "stunned and sickened” by Floyd’s death. “I am not a black man..so I can't even pretend to understand what it's like....but even MORE, I can't understand what it's like to be a racist white dips**t,” he wrote. “I don't get it. I will never 'get' it. Thankfully, I grew up different.
“Police training and vetting of new and old officers has to change radically. For starters…"
Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg wrote: “Black lives matter. Systemic racism exists. White privilege is real. I’m heartbroken to, yet again, witness the oppression and bigotry that Black people in America have consistently endured for centuries — at the hands of a system that’s broken to its very core.”
“It’s time to speak up against police brutality and the perpetrators of systemic racism, and to become an ally to those who do not experience the same freedoms that we who share in our white privilege do. I’m hopeful that we can use our voices to enact real change. That we can contribute our time, energy, donations, and compassion to fighting for real equality, freedom, and togetherness.”
Weinberg added: “Educate yourself. Vote. Use your voice. I will.”
Darius Rucker confessed “this who thing just really breaks me down to my core.”
He shared: “It is no longer alright for me to perpetuate the myth that things are okay. I have kids whom I love and cherish, and to watch them go through this, to feel their anguish and anger trying to deal with this is heartbreaking for me. The question that keeps coming up is ‘will it ever change?' And my answer now has to be ‘YES.’”
Country star Kane Brown wrote: "We will never see peace in this world until we ALL see each other as PEOPLE. We will never understand each other when you have people on 2 different sides. We have to become 1 to be at peace . . . If everyone was seen as people, if everyone was treated the same, if everyone was charged the same sentence, this s**t wouldn't be happening. #BlackLivesMatter We are people too."