Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta on Tim Lambesis backlash: “I was one of the only people that publicly went against him”

Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta has recently shared his views on the backlash surrounding Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying. The controversy stems from Lambesis’s 2013 attempt to hire a hitman to kill his then-wife, which was thwarted by law enforcement before it could be carried out. As a result, he served several years in prison after pleading guilty to solicitation of murder. At the time, Lambesis and his wife had three adopted children, and although he was initially sentenced to six years, he was paroled after about two years.

After his release, Lambesis sought to reunite As I Lay Dying, working with therapists to mend relationships with his former bandmates. The band successfully reunited in 2018, but by 2022, several members, including guitarist/vocalist Nick Hipa and bassist/vocalist Josh Gilbert, had left due to unresolved issues. Eventually, only Lambesis and guitarist/vocalist Phil Sgrosso remained, leading them to recruit new members. However, by October of this year, the new lineup also fell apart, with members citing moral concerns.

In November, disturbing footage emerged of Lambesis and his current wife, Dany, showing him in distress. Lambesis later claimed to have filed a restraining order against her, alleging years of abuse. Meanwhile, Jasta, who initially expressed skepticism about Lambesis’s return to the scene during his 2018 podcast appearance, reiterated his stance on the recent ‘LOS Podcast.’ He argued that artists must earn their privileges and questioned Lambesis’s integrity, particularly regarding his past actions and current situation.

Jasta expressed that he was one of the few who openly criticized Lambesis, stating:

“I was one of the only people that publicly went against him… I think I’m still one of the only people that said, ‘No. Fuck this dude! It’s wack. He’s done.’”

He recounted receiving backlash from fans for his candidness, emphasizing the importance of accountability for artists.