“Last night at a Queens of the Stone Age performance, I kicked the camera of a photographer, and that camera hit the photographer in the face. And the photographer’s name was Chelsea Lauren.
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“I’d just like to apologize to Chelsea Lauren. I don’t have any excuse or reason to justify what I did. I was a total dick, and I’m truly sorry, and I hope you’re okay.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, and last night was definitely one of ’em. And I apologize for that to you.
“I wanna be a good man, but I think last night I definitely failed at that. And that means I failed my family and my friends as well. I don’t want them to ever be ashamed or embarrassed about being around me or knowing me. And so I apologize also to my bandmates and my mom and my dad and my wife and my brother and my kids.
“Yeah, I’m gonna have to figure out some stuff, I think. ‘Cause rock and roll is a wonderful thing. It’s supposed to save and help people, not mess ’em up.
“So, Chelsea Lauren, I hope you’re okay and I’m truly sorry. And I understand you have to do whatever you have to do. I just want you to know that I’m sorry.”
Josh also noted in a written statement:
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“Last night, while in a state of being lost in performance, I kicked over various lighting and equipment on our stage.
“Today it was brought to my attention that this included a camera held by photographer Chelsea Lauren. I did not mean for that to happen and I am very sorry.
“I would never intentionally cause harm to anyone working at or attending one of our shows and I hope Chelsea will accept my sincere apology.’
The photographer said:
“Thank you everyone that has reached out with supportive messages. A small update, as I’m being flooded with questions: My neck is a sore, my eyebrow bruised and I’m a bit nauseous.
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“The doctor released me early in the morning. Here are three images. Two of them as Josh looked at me, smiled and then kicked me. The other one is later after he cut his own face with a knife. I was in the pit in tears – and he just stared at me smiling.
“Assault in any form is not okay, no matter what the reasoning. Alcohol and drugs are no excuse. I was where I was allowed to be, I was not breaking any rules. I was simply trying to do my job. I hold nobody accountable for this but Josh himself.
“KROQ has nothing to do with this and I will always support them. The irony is someone had thrown an ice cube on to the very slick catwalk before the QOTSA set.
“I was afraid that one of the band members might slip and hurt themselves so, when the lights went dark, I used my arm to wipe down the runway so nobody would hurt themselves.
“Thank you to Variety for their immediate concern and care with this matter. As of now, nobody from QOTSA has reached out to me.”
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A variety of people commented on Josh’s beheviour and apology, including Anthony Bourdain, who noted:”Waking up in Bhutan to the Josh Homme shit and still in the WTF!!!??!! Phase. Senseless. And a weak ass apology… and Monday, I’m afraid, isn’t going to get any better.
“No. Trust me. Monday is really gonna suck. It’s where you stand when the people you care about and admire do awful things that matters. Keeping head down and hoping it goes away? No.”Eddie Vedder’s wife Gill also condemned Homme, telling Chelsea (via Alternative Nation):“I’m so very sorry this happened to you… this guy is a piece of shit… never liked him… I’m horrified… and truly disgusted…”