“Diaz , listen, I know you think I’m a dick but I really only play one on TV. I will never forget that you took me on my first tour  - and it means a lot to me to still be on tour with you 10 years later even though I’m a fucking train wreck. I still like to consider you my boy - and no one sings “Hey Ya” like you -Much Love.” - Gabe Saporta 2009 from the inside page of my ‘Believers Never Die part deux’ tour yearbook

This is for my long time friend Gabe in the following video, for which I’m sure you’re hearing shit from both sides, positive and negative…

From a fat kid standpoint, I’m a little bummed out that this is how you handled it. I’ve seen you on so many occasions with three different bands, and this is a huge let down. Let’s forget the fact that you chose to pick on a physical characteristic or age group to attack. Dude, you’re on stage with the attention of a couple thousand people who I’m sure were not aware of what was going on, but are going to cheer on your actions because you’re swearing at and humiliating someone, and not even in a clever way. You should be above this by now. I’ve been in similar scenarios years ago, albeit on a smaller scale, but you rise above it. Sure I’ve snapped on some people and said some nasty shit (in fact once was in Rochester when you took TRS out with Midtown and Recover) but you’re in a way bigger position than I ever was and you’re living in a day and age where that shit ends up on the internet for everyone to see in minutes.

But, let’s forget all that for a minute and focus on what really is the problem… your need to defend this via an insanely long and insanely insane blog response to what happened. (http://gsaporta.tumblr.com/) If anything you’re making it worse.

Here’s a couple of things your long winded response did to dig your hole a little deeper :

- “…it’s not something I’m proud of doing, but I did what I had to do.” This is a sentiment you repeat a few times in this diatribe. You know what? You didn’t HAVE to do anything. I know being heckled is a tiring non-isolated incident, but you’re at the end of your set, you’ve got the mic, the PA, the biggest dick… man, let it go. Nothing had to be done. You’re calling out someone and shining light on a person who’s biggest achievement in life is flipping off and talking shit at a guy in a successful band long enough for him to take notice.

- “Firstly, how do you know he’s 16? Because I referred to him as “kid?” No because you referred to him as being 16 in the video. You also repeatedly referred to this “16 year old” as fat, ugly, and then threatened to have your “brothers and sisters” pound him. C’mon man…  You go on about staying young and having a young mentality, which really has nothing to do with the situation at hand, but then use the dumbest insult of all time, telling the kid to go home to jerk off to pictures of his mother.  

- “And lastly, I don’t know why I have to keep saying this, but:

I AM NOT A ROLE MODEL!!!!!
I DON’T WANT TO BE A ROLE MODEL”  This is exactly what every person says in your position who gets caught, figuratively, with their pants down. The definition of role models in our country has shifted from the traditional religious and educational figures to pop culture figures. Kids don’t watch videos of sermons from church or listen to podcasts of their teachers. They listen to your records and watch your videos, and inasmuch as you consider it fun, they consider it something admirable that they want to be a part of. I know it sucks, and I definitely got involved in rock ‘n’ roll to be young forever and say whatever the fuck it is that came to mind, but calling someone out at a show wasn’t one of those things. You have plenty of opportunities to speak your mind throughout your shows and throughout your career without stooping down to the level (or lower) than a stupid kid heckling your band at a show.

I’m not trying to vilify you here. Like I said (and you said in your yearbook inscription), we’ve been friends for a long time. I know you’re not one to take the high road or back down from someone who’s got something to say, and fucking lord knows you have PLENTY to say. This just was inappropriately handled. I’ll be your friend through thick (me) and thin (you). This was just sad.

Rise above.