Never a stranger to eliciting controversy, Behemoth frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski has recently posted an update regarding a long-winded legal battle he partook in over a certain "blasphemous" sculpture gifted to him by Celtic Frost's Tom Gabriel Fischer.
The sculpture depicts a phallus with Jesus on the Crucifix fastened to it. A video of him showcasing this gift drew negative attention from conservative members of the Polish government, with some vowing to make him pay for "offending religious feelings." However, he managed to fight this case, receiving full acquittal in the process. He pointed out that this legal battle needlessly cost both himself and the government money and time. The court found that while his actions were "disrespectful," they were "meaninglessly empty" in the end.
His full statement:
In 2018, on this very day, I posted a silly video on Instagram, singing an old children's song for Women's Day while waving a certain artifact. Hardly high comedy, but was it blasphemous or shocking? I didn't think so—but it was enough for a few clowns on the other side to take offense and run straight to court.
A certain conservative MEP loudly vowed I'd end up in prison, while the ever-litigious Ordo Iuris joined the choir of the outraged. After years in court and tens of thousands zlotis spent on legal defense, I was fully acquitted just days ago.
The verdict is a bittersweet victory tho. I'm glad justice prevailed, glad I put my opponents in their place. But I still consider it as an absurd that a mediocre joke in this country can spiral into a costly, nerve-wracking legal battle.
Nevertheless, to all the women out there… loooots of love❤️❤️❤️❤️
PS. The artifact in question is a stunning sculpture by my friend and Black Metal legend, Tom Gabriel Fischer. Right now, my lawyers are working to have it returned to me, as it was a personal gift from him.
Previously, Nergal garnered controversy for such acts as ripping up a bible on-stage in 2007, allegedly insulting the Polish coat of arms with merch designs for Behemoth, and sharing a photo of himself putting his foot on a depiction of the Virgin Mary.
Since then, he has started a legal defense fund to protect himself and others who were "unfairly" targeted by Polish blasphemy laws.
The law states:
Whoever offends religious feelings of other people by publicly insulting an object of religious cult or a place for public holding of religious ceremonies, is subject to a fine, restriction of liberty or loss of liberty for up to 2 years.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment