Viet Cong writes an open letter to people offended by its name

Earlier this year, Canadian post-punk act Viet Cong released its self-titled album on Jagjaguwar records. And while the album has been met with accolades, the band has spent the past few weeks wrapped up in controversy thanks to its name. Viet Cong’s name first took the spotlight when Ohio’s Oberlin College canceled a previously scheduled show, with promoter Ivan Krasnov citing, “the fact that the band openly acknowledges their problematic name, yet fails to change it or do anything about it, highlights this blatantly appropriative move, reinforcing a tradition of American (and Western) orientalism and appropriation,” as the reason for the cancelation.
Since then others have taken a stance on the band’s name, with Gang Of Four guitarist Andy Gill—whose band name carries similar political connotations—stating that Krasnov’s choice to cancel the show is “illiberal, undemocratic and anti-progressive.” After weeks of talk swirling around them, the band has issued an open letter, addressing those that have taken issue with the name: