Architects speak out on their 2024 social media fallout

Members of the British metalcore group Architects discussed their upcoming album, “The Sky, the Earth & All Between,” which will be released on February 28th, as well as other aspects of their career and present situation in a recent interview with The Guardian. The band’s notorious January 2024 incident, in which guitarist and singer Adam Christianson was criticized for reposting stuff on social media that was controversially divisive and transphobic, was one of the subjects that came up. Christianson swiftly expressed regret for the incident, calling it a “complete all-thumbs moment,” but social media was flooded with criticism of the group. The matter was made more difficult by the subsequent investigation of Christianson’s social media profile, which revealed that he had previously like other content that was controversial in relation to transgender identity. Instead, the band put up a united face as calls for Christianson’s dismissal increased.

No one on this stage judges anybody for their gender, their race, and whoever they are in love with. We never have, we never will. That is not what this band stands for. And that is not what this band will ever stand for. We love every single one of you. Sam Carter on stage shortly after the incident

They wanted Adam crucified in the street, with no job. Anything less than that would be an act of blatant transphobia. Dan Searle

I was a mess. I was thinking: he has to go. And then he wakes up and we have a phone conversation. He’s my friend who picked me up off the floor when I was in bits crying about Tom; he’s a stepdad of two kids; he’s a saint. But you’ve drawn this picture up of him. [The internet] is such a fucking scary place. I got dragged for that [speech on stage]! The right were angry with me. You can’t win. Sam Carter

The Guardian noted that Christianson’s justification was muddled by his history of like postings about other contentious issues, including as those linked to the anti-vax “freedom convoy” demonstration that occurred in Christianson’s home country of Canada.

What if it is supportive? The brother of a good friend of ours in Canada had their bank balance frozen because he’d liked something on Facebook about the convoy. Do we really think that’s good? That’s not the world we want to live in.