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Behemoth frontman Nergal cleared of religious offense charges over controversial sculpture
Behemoth vocalist Adam “Nergal” Darski has secured a legal victory in a case that has followed him for several years. The metal frontman was facing charges for showcasing a controversial sculpture gifted to him by Celtic Frost’s Tom Gabriel Fischer – an artwork depicting Jesus on a cross with phallic elements incorporated into the design.
After sharing images of the handcrafted sculpture on social media, Nergal found himself targeted by Polish authorities for allegedly “offending religious feelings,” a punishable offense in Poland. Following a prolonged legal battle, a court has now completely acquitted the musician of all charges.
In a statement released yesterday, March 9th, Nergal reflected on the case:
“Back in 2018, I shared what I considered a lighthearted video on Instagram for Women’s Day, featuring this particular artifact. While not high art by any means, I never viewed it as blasphemous – yet it prompted certain individuals to immediately pursue legal action.”
“One conservative Member of European Parliament publicly predicted my imprisonment, while the notoriously litigation-prone organization Ordo Iuris joined the campaign against me. After years in court and legal expenses reaching tens of thousands of złoty, I’ve finally been fully cleared.”
Nergal described the verdict as a “bittersweet victory,” expressing satisfaction that justice prevailed while criticizing the fact that such a trivial incident could escalate into an expensive and stressful legal ordeal in Poland.
The metal vocalist concluded by noting that his legal team is now working to recover the confiscated sculpture, which he values as a personal gift from his fellow metal musician Tom Gabriel Fischer.