5 Seconds of Summer guitarist makes grovelling apology after vile sexist and homophobic tweets resurface
Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds of Summer (Rich Fury/Getty)
Michael Clifford, guitarist with 5 Seconds of Summer, has apologised after past sexist and homophobic tweets resurfaced online.
In a tweet from 2013, the guitarist told bandmate Luke Hemmings that he tweets “like a f*g” and used the word “gay” in a derogatory way.
In another tweet, he wrote: “I am so bad at making sandwiches, I would be a terrible woman.”
Screenshots began to circulate after Clifford expressed solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement on Instagram, which prompted critics to point out his past failings.
5 Seconds of Summer guitarist Michael Clifford said he is ‘so f**king sorry’ for his past remarks.
In a viral thread, a Twitter user slammed his fans for “defending every single one [of] his actions.”
The same Twitter user claimed that Clifford “never apologised” for his past use of the “f*g” slur.
Some people have access to a digital megaphone a bit earlier than they should, unfortunately, I was one of them.
Clifford apologised for the past tweets on Saturday (June 14).
“I am so f**king sorry for all the dumb s**t I did when I was younger,” Clifford wrote.
“I am a different person now with a much better understanding of the world.
“Some people have access to a digital megaphone a bit earlier than they should, unfortunately, I was one of them.”
The guitarist said he was ‘naive’ when he made the comments online.
In a follow up tweet, he added: “I am so sorry for hurting anyone. It was never my intention. I was so naive and I am embarrassed and I am beyond sorry.
“I will continue to be better and I will continue to change. I never want to hurt anyone again.”
The Australian pop rock band rose to fame as the support act on One Direction’s Take Me Home Tour. They went on to release their debut single “She Looks So Perfect” in 2014. Their first album was released later that year.
They released their fourth studio album Calm in March of this year.
Clifford is joined in the band by Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin.
