George Floyd protests: Fulltone products removed from Guitar Center stores after owner's comments on looting
The American music retailer chain, Guitar Center has confirmed that they will no longer sell any Fulltone products, following Fulltone founder Mike Fuller’s comments on protests against police brutality.
Fulltone is a guitar and bass guitar pedal company running for near three decades. Guitar Center is one of the largest companies of its kind in the US, with nearly 300 stores across the country. Guitar Center has its headquarters in Westlake Village, California. The US retail giant oversees various subsidiaries including Music & Arts, GuitarCenter.com, LMI, Giardinelli, Musician.com, Private Reserve Guitars, Woodwind and Brasswind and Music 123 and used to own Harmony Central until its April 2015 sale to Gibson.
Guitar Center confirmed the decision to ax Fulltone in a tweet. "We are no longer doing business with Fulltone," reads their brief statement, "and are moving quickly to remove all Fulltone products from our stores and websites.”
On June 2, Fuller posted several comments on social media in response to the protests. “What is this like night 4 of looting with 100% impunity,” read a post added to the brand’s official Facebook page. This was followed by further comments including, "The pussy Mayor and Governor don’t give a shit about small businesses, and it’s never been more clear" and "Ahh I feel better, and flushed out some prissy boys who were raised to pee sitting down. Now I’ll delete," according to Music Radar.
After his comments came under heavy criticism, Fuller issued an apology and like his other posts, it has been deleted. His apology read on Facebook, "I apolgize [sic] to anybody I’ve offended, and believe that anyone who abuses or harms another person should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, that includes cops."
Stars including Blink-182’s bassist and co-lead vocalist Mark Hoppus and Jason Isbell condemned the Fulltone company, as did the brand’s own fan page, Fulltone Pedals, which also shared Fuller’s provocative email correspondence with customers who objected to his stance. “Never buying another Fulltone pedal and will find a good way to get rid of those I already own,” said Hoppus, while Isbell instead recommended followers “Check out black-owned pedal company Dogman Devices… Fulltone has always made overpriced junk.”
