Metal Anarchy

Bilmuri‘s touring guitarist Reese Maslen has been accused of racism, misogyny, etc. by his ex-partner Celina Coma. As such, he has since decided to step away from the band.

Coma said the following:

“Hello. After months of deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that this is a statement I must make, because remaining silent would be a disservice not only to myself but also to the countless others who are unknowingly affected by these actions.

Reese Maslen, you are a selfish, ignorant, racist, misogynistic, and disingenuous individual who either cannot or refuses to understand the harm you have caused (and continue to cause) without the awareness of those around you. You hide behind the persona of an immature “funny guy,” making edgy jokes and feigning ignorance of the true meaning and impact of the words you use. You possess an inflated sense of self importance derived from your platform gained as a hired gun, and you use your ego and talent to justify speaking down to others.

You have attended just enough therapy to weaponize its language plus your incompetence to your advantage.

You have claimed you “actually have somewhat of a platform” and “could shit on [me] publicly” “paint[ing] [me] as an absolute piece of shit, disregarding the nuance of who [i am] and our relationship” but wouldn’t because you “can take accountability and change.” However, you and I both know that you wouldn’t since then you’d have to admit that you actually did said things.

Your “it’s just an edgy joke” mentality has been your deflection when confronted with targeted insults and statements. Your infatuation with Japan and Asia has bordered on fetishization. The countless Oxford study jokes made while explaining my OWN culture to me in an infantilized and simplified manner through a lens crafted from internet propaganda and one trip to Japan was used to stereotype me and my behavior. Countless times you have made jokes at the expense of my ethnicity while touting casual racism. I one time mentioned wanting to travel and you replied “let’s go to Japan so you can make more dog eater friends” completely unprovoked. You genuinely believe Asian women are submissive and docile so when I behave out of your Reddit moderator perception you experience cognitive dissonance.

A few months ago I ran our pictures through a filter to mock the “this is what you’d look like if you were black or Chinese” meme on Twitter. You then used the black race swapped picture of you which you dubbed “Reequacious Jefferson” as a meme in your work group chats (full of white men) as an excuse to use slurs and AAVE mockingly. When you showed me this and I was rightfully upset, you said you showed it to a group of people who you knew “would find it funny” and I had no right in being mad since I was just as guilty running it through the filter.

The first clip is two screenshots of you on FaceTime typing out the n word (which you claimed you have never said! I guess that is factual as I’ve only seen you type it!) stitched together as a video.

You have positioned yourself as “reformed” and “changed” all while upholding a deep seated belief that you are above others. Your feigned ignorance is shown when making comments about women and defending your statements by tokenizing an individual since you “cannot be a misogynist” if you are “in a band with a woman.” You boasted that it felt good to have the option to reject me, a “hot girl”, because turning down women feels good. The unasked for critiques of local bands, smaller artists, and your peers all come from a place of horrible insecurity that manifest, frankly, into actual bullying. You have replied to videos I have sent you of my friends bands body shaming them by saying how much you hope you don’t look like them when performing, talking down on DIY music as if you didn’t start as a local DIY musician yourself, and calling my instrument, the saxophone, stupid while profiting off a different saxophonist. You are not better than anyone else just because you got lucky and you project insecurity on those who have successful projects since yours never took off how you hoped.

You have threatened to off yourself under the guise of a joke if I didn’t reply to you quick enough or if my location services were turned off. You would ask me to leave you alone and then send me screenshots of my location asking where I was and what I was doing. You would name call me and raise your voice at me when I questioned you and stood up for myself. I walked into your studio trashed with broken equipment and guitars because I didn’t speak to you the night before because I requested space. You have said to me and sent me pictures of loaded guns describing what would happen if you thought I was cheating on you.

You accused me of trying to seduce and sleep with your roommate because I went to use the bathroom one room away wearing an oversized shirt and underwear. You accused me of cheating on you with one of my best friends, who happens to be the reason we even met and you have known longer than I, multiple times. I stopped modeling for figure drawing classes because of the accusations you would throw at me. After I totaled my car I did a hot tub stream for tips (which I asked for permission and you agreed to) and you used it against me for months accusing me of having an OF account and producing secret content.

Finally, the way you treated me during my miscarriage was abhorrent. You hung up on me during a crisis, called me an attention seeker, and said our baby was “gross,” insisting that wanting to give them a proper burial was not “normal.” I have lost countless hours of sleep over the man you have shown yourself to be. I asked you to attend grief counseling with me. I begged you to call me after a traumatic doctor’s appointment where I received life changing news. All you could offer in response was, “Well, it shouldn’t have happened,” and “Get over it.”

I wish I had more screenshots available, but much of the communication took place over Snapchat or verbally.

These statements are not inclusive of any individuals or companies he is associated with as they pertain solely to him. I do not take threats lightly, and given the immense talent this world has to offer, I do not believe that individuals who behave in this manner should be given a platform or influence. Thank you.”

She later added:

“Hello. My phone has been off for most of the past 24 hours, with comments, mentions, and messages disabled due to the events which unfolded. This will be my last and only statement on the matter.

First, I ask that you do not engage with Reese. Name calling, threats, and comments about unrelated matters such as appearance, are unproductive and only lower you to the same level as the behavior being addressed. Any discussion should focus solely on the content presented and the character reflected therein. Furthermore, no speculation should be made about individuals associated with him, whether professionally or personally. Many of them are unknowing victims of similar conduct.

I would like to clarify that the majority of the screenshots shared and the events referenced occurred during approximately the month leading up to the end of our relationship in August. Claims that I condoned this behavior or laughed along with it while it was occurring are untrue. While I am no stranger to edgy jokes and dark humor- I do not find the use of slurs or bigoted remarks for shock value, like when race is not even relevant to the topic, funny. There are ways to make an edgy joke about topics like ethnicity or gender without resorting to those cheap tactics. If you are able to look past that as it doesn’t affect you, you have a privilege many do not.

As people grow comfortable with one another, they naturally reveal more of themselves. What I initially dismissed as poor wording or jokes that landed poorly eventually revealed itself to be deeply rooted misogynistic and racist beliefs. I understand that many may not relate to this dynamic. However, when such comments come from someone you love, trust, and believe respects you, it becomes easy to rationalize the behavior by telling yourself that you are overreacting or that they did not mean it in that way.

Regarding the “Reequacious Jefferson” incident specifically, I confronted him and made it clear that what began as an edgy joke had escalated into something entirely inappropriate. This was especially true after he showed me its use as a caricature in work group chats and private messages sent to people he believed would “find it funny.” I cannot comprehend the use of stereotypical speech or behavior to impersonate a Black man for the purpose of entertaining a group of white men. To this day, he maintains that there is nothing wrong with this behavior.

In reference to him typing the n-word during a FaceTime call, the recording shows him typing the letters “N,” “I,” and “G” onscreen. Shortly afterward, though not recorded, he pleaded with me to delete the screenshots. I took them in a state of shock as a way to affirm that I was not imagining or misinterpreting what was happening. This incident, coupled with several degrading comments made toward me that same week, ultimately became the final catalyst that gave me the courage to leave.

I do reflect on the ways in which I may have inadvertently made him feel comfortable speaking to and treating me in this manner. However, anyone who has experienced abusive behavior understands how difficult confrontation can be, particularly when substance abuse and firearms are involved. It is also deeply uncomfortable to be targeted in group settings, where one becomes the subject of ridicule for the sake of cheap laughter while hoping others will intervene. I acknowledge that no matter what evidence is presented, some degree of personal bias will always exist. I do not claim to have been a perfect partner, as that does not exist, but I can state with confidence that I never attacked him personally, only his behavior. In hindsight, I feel embarrassed by the ways I attempted to navigate the situation. You cannot “gentle parent” an adult partner out of deeply internalized bigotry, nor is it your responsibility to do SO.

I am speaking now only because his touring schedule has concluded, and he will not be in the public eye for the time being. On a personal note, I have also completed all medical appointments related to the aftermath of our pregnancy loss, allowing me to rest and to avoid further contact with him. If this situation were merely about a difficult breakup, I would not be addressing it publicly. I have been asked to remove my statements, and I will not be persuaded or bought into doing so.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.”

This led Maslen to respond:

“I exhibited behavior on several fronts during a previous relationship that I deeply regret. I am so sorry not only to her, but to anyone else these behaviors have affected. At this point, I can only apologize and take the steps to be a better person for myself and everyone else in my life.

Effective immediately, I am stepping down from Bilmuri. I loved every second of my time with them, but it’s important that I take this time to work on myself.”