CONTENT WARNING: The following article discusses transphobic comments and incidents of alleged hate speech
After his controversial ousting from Thy Art Is Murder last year, former frontman CJ McMahon has kicked off a new chapter, launching a brand new career in the Western Sydney real estate biz.
Sharing the news on his personal Instagram account alongside a photo of him scrubbing up in a white suit shirt and blue-striped tie (probably the least “metal” we’ve ever seen him look) with his business partner at an office in Campbelltown, McMahon said, “Let’s fucking go @stevearentz the future is looking very bright for @cjmcmahon_realestate.” You can peep the post below.
“the future is looking very bright“
It comes after CJ was removed from Thy Art Is Murder last year following a messy scandal over a perceived hateful transphobic outburst he posted online.
After the post triggered a storm of backlash, McMahon then posted a video apology in which he claimed his “intentions weren’t to be transphobic”. He later shared a follow-up video backflipping on said apology and stating, “I didn’t want to apologise as I didn’t have anything to apologise for.”
The band announced his departure on social media and revealed they’d recruited a replacement singer, who somehow managed to re-record all of McMahon’s parts on their 2023 album, Godlike, just days before its release in September.
“This decision was made to preserve the band’s integrity and direction,” the band said regarding McMahon’s departure.
McMahon first stirred controversy by sharing a video from right-wing commentator Matt Walsh. The video showed a mother asking her child whether they identified as a boy or girl, to which the child replied “both” and the mother playfully expressed her support. McMahon captioned the video with, “She should be burned to death”.
In their post, the band described McMahon’s actions as “just another symptom of the drawn out breakdown in his character in judgement”. They alleged they’d been “lobbed with threats to destroy Thy Art Is Murder from the inside if we did not capitulate to various ideologies that [McMahon] holds.”
“Everyone has their own right to free speech and to seek their truth,” the band added. “They are also free to receive the consequences that come with it.”
The group then proceeded to tour in support of the album, which will include an appearance on the Knotfest Australia lineup later this month. However, they copped significant backlash over how they handled the split, with controversial Falling In Reverse frontman Ronnie Radke inserting himself into the situation, calling on fans to boycott Thy Art and offering to give McMahon $20K to counter the supposed “spineless cowards bending to this shit and ruining peoples lives”.
Perhaps it was just the business loan he needed to kickstart this new career in real estate?
If you or anyone you know needs help or information regarding mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Further Reading
Pantera, Disturbed, Lamb of God to Headline Knotfest Australia 2024
CJ McMahon Retracts Apology, Is No Longer a Member of Thy Art Is Murder
Thy Art Is Murder’s CJ McMahon Shares Apology: “My Intentions Weren’t to Be Transphobic”
