Deviant Libation, a Tampa/Ybor City, FL-based venue, brewery, and distillery, have shared comments on the ongoing “Bananagate” controversy involving Baltimore, MD hardcore outfit End It and a attendee who wore a banana costume to their show in Toronto, ON last week.
From the stage End It’s vocalist Akil Godsey addressed the fan in the suit, stating he was looking for attention and thus he was about it get it. Following those remarks Godsey stated that anyone who disrobed the man of his banana costume would get the band’s giant poster board setlist.
Following the show, End It has received both backlash and support from all sides of the music world causing a debate among fans, bands, and more.
End It released Wrong Side of Heaven through Flatspot Records in August of last year and have since been heavily supporting that release via tours and festival appearances. However, following the incident the band has mysteriously vanished from the previously announced Hatebreed and Life Of Agony co-headlining European tour. No official comment was given by the tour, just a few new ad mats appeared.
Since the event, End It have also been silent and have not been active on social media. Actually, it appears the band has deleted their Facebook page, though as of posting this the group’s Instagram and Twitter are active.
There is no confirmation the band was removed because of the “Bananagate” incident.
Deviant Libation owner Tim Ogden shared his comments on consent and the controversy stating one of the reasons his venue banned “crowd killing” in 2025.
Ogden stated:
By now almost everyone has heard about the ridiculous situation in Toronto where a vocalist for a band called someone to the front of the stage, only to offer a super goofy bounty to disrobe the guy, who was dressed like a banana, saying “he wanted attention and now he gotttt iiit” Well, the band wanted attention. Now they got it.
We’re bringing it up because it seems like a good time to address the reasons we banned crowd killing at deviant libation in 2025. It all comes down to one word. Consent. Since we started booking shows in 2023 and until we made this decision,
-an employee took hands to the face, running sound
-the child of an employee took hands to the face, standing against the wall
-same customer hit from behind TWICE ordering the SAME DRINK
And so many more events.
Whether it’s a BDSM event, a music event of any genre, or just a quiet night at a brewery don’t touch people without their explicit consent. You’re in a moshpit dancing, or on the edges of one? Don’t push people towards a bar they can crack their head on, or towards the sound board breaking even more channels than some already have. If people become dominoes and the only one apologizing is the one who got pushed and chain reaction hitting someone else in the face, you have no control or have no respect. HxC is about respect and I will hear no rebuttal. Listen to some old school shit. Listen to the words. Regardless of that, Deviant had to make choices that align with our values. We still book hardcore bands. We love it. We require accountability and consent every day. We don’t allow people getting targeted, humiliated, or touched against their will. No circumstances change this stance.
Wear a banana suit. Wear a leather harness. Wear latex. Wear a suit and tie. Wear a top hat. Wear 72 scarves and a feather boa. Wear corpse paint. Wear a band t shirt like everyone else in the club. Wear whatever you want as long as it’s street legal. Just don’t be a piece of shit. Don’t advocate for people to be humiliated unless those people exclude themselves from the social contract. IE fascists. Racists. Bigots.
House rules.