Viet Cong Issue Statement About Name Controversy

Earlier this month, a promoter at Oberlin College in Ohio canceled a show featuring Canadian post-punk outfit Viet Cong, saying the band’s name “deeply offends and hurts Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American communities." Now, the band has issued a statement addressing the controversy.

Our band, Viet Cong, has existed for a little over three years now. When we named ourselves, we were naive about the history of a war in a country we knew very little about. We now better understand the weight behind the words Viet Cong. While we don't take any concerns about the name lightly, we feel it is important to let you know that we never meant to trivialize the atrocities or violence that occurred on both sides of the Vietnam War. We never intended for our name to be provocative or hurtful.

We truly appreciate the seriousness of the feedback we've received, and we will continue to be open to listening to issues and concerns from all perspectives.

With love from the band Viet Cong."

Viet Cong released their self-titled debut at the beginning of the year. They’re slated to appear alongside Spoon, Best Coast and more at this year’s Hype Hotel at SXSW.