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Henry Rollins Apologizes for Comments on Suicide

5:19 AM |
Kevin Winter/Getty Images We believe his apology is sincere.

Although undoubtedly his previous hurtful words may prove to be unforgivable by a lot of people.

Henry Rollins has built a career as a musician, actor, and poet because of his angry and uncompromising ways, but his ire towards Robin Williams was met with a lot of backlash recently.

Mr. Rollins posted an article last week on LA Weekly called F**k Suicide about the late actor's death by suicide, and proceeded to heavily criticize Robin Williams for taking his own life — especially since he has children.

While Mr. Rollins did praise Robin Williams for his brilliant career, he also admitted he judges those who commit suicide "with a bit of disdain."

He also wrote:

    "I know they existed, yet they have nullified their existence because they willfully removed themselves from life. They were real but now they are not."

Well, we guess the reaction to his insensitive article was pretty strong as Mr. Rollins has already written an apology letter for his article.

And it seems like he's truly sorry!

Here's what he wrote and published on his website this past Friday:

    "For the last 9+ hours, I have been answering letters from people from all over the world. The anger is off the scale and in my opinion, well placed.

    The article I wrote in the LA Weekly about suicide caused a lot of hurt. This is perhaps one of the bigger understatements of all time. I read all the letters. Some of them were very long and the disappointment, resentment and ringing clarity was jarring.

    That I hurt anyone by what I said, and I did hurt many, disgusts me. It was not at all my intent but it most certainly was the result.

    I have had a life of depression. Some days are excruciating. Knowing what I know and having been through what I have, I should have known better but I obviously did not. I get so mad when I hear that someone has died this way. Not mad at them, mad at whatever got them there and that no one magically appeared to somehow save them.

    I am not asking for a break from the caning, take me to the woodshed as much as you see fit. If what I said has caused you to be done with me, I get it.

    I wrote something for the LA Weekly that they will post on Monday.

    I wanted to get this out at this moment.

    I am deeply sorry. Down to my marrow. I can’t think that means anything to you, but I am. Completely sorry. It is not of my interest to hurt anyone but I know I did. Thank you for reading this. Henry"

We're interested to see what his article on Monday will reveal that this apology does not.

For someone who built his career on his anger and unique way of looking at things - it's easy to sometimes say the wrong thing.

But the fact that this man owned up to what he said, and revealed how deeply sorry he was that he hurt folks with his comments is a legit way of asking for forgiveness.

And admitting you are wrong is something that is not so easy. So while we disagree with his original comments - we absolutely can say we respect this man after his apology letter.
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Henry Rollins Lost Respect for Robin Williams

5:15 AM |

0823_fish_robin_henry Robin Williams' suicide has inspired Henry Rollins to pen a 997-word missive for L.A. Weekly in which he highlights the selfishness of the act. Although he called Williams "a good man" and praised his performances for the USO, he said that he lost respect for Williams when he learned that the actor had killed himself, primarily citing the fact that Williams was a father. (Update: Rollins has apologized for his column in a long note posted to his website.)


"How in the hell could you possibly do that to your children?" Rollins wrote. "I don't care how well-adjusted your kid might be – choosing to kill yourself, rather than to be there for that child, is every shade of awful, traumatic and confusing. I think as soon as you have children, you waive your right to take your own life. No matter what mistakes you make in life, it should be your utmost goal not to traumatize your kids. So, you don't kill yourself."

Rollins did not discount Williams' despair in his post. "Depression is so personal and so unique to each of us that when you're in its teeth, you think you invented it," he wrote. "You can understand your own, but that's it."

But mostly, Rollins' essay served as a warning for people to consider the bigger picture of their actions. The former Black Flag and Rollins Band frontman explained that, to him, the act of suicide makes him reassess the person.

"When someone negates their existence, they cancel themselves out in my mind," he wrote. "I have many records, books and films featuring people who have taken their own lives, and I regard them all with a bit of distain [sic]. When someone commits this act, he or she is out of my analog world. I know they existed, yet they have nullified their existence because they willfully removed themselves from life. They were real but now they are not.

"I no longer take this person seriously," he continued. "I may be able to appreciate what he or she did artistically but it's impossible to feel bad for them. Their life wasn't cut short – it was purposely abandoned. It's hard to feel bad when the person did what they wanted to."

Rollins cited a statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that 40,000 people a year kill themselves. "In my opinion, that is 40,000 people who blew it," he wrote.

Ultimately, he summed up his position in two words: "Fuck suicide."

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