Trapt drummer Michael Smith has officially quit the band. In a statement, Smith said, “After playing drums for Trapt for the past couple years, I have decided to step down from the band. This is definitely a bittersweet decision.”
Smith then referred to the issues that the band has had over the past year, particularly the social media outbursts of singer Chris Taylor Brown. Brown has been critical of the Black Lives Matter movement and has spread misinformation regarding the coronavirus pandemic. He was eventually kicked off of Instagram.
Smith said, “There have been some ongoing issues (primarily political) throughout 2020 that many of you may know about, others may not. I respect everyone’s right to have an opinion on politics. But at the end of the day, I am a musician and my job is to play and create music. So that is what I plan on doing.
He continued, “As I still communicate and have great relationships with the guys in the band, I will only speak for myself. The stances taken, and publicity received as a result are not representative of myself. Not as an individual, nor fitting or aligned with my personal morals and beliefs. I do not agree with how certain things have been handled towards our fans and the music community who I have such an immense respect for.”
He later thanked everyone involved in his career and added, “It has been one of the best periods in my life the past couple years. But when it comes down to it, I do not agree with a lot of things morally and the publicity the band has received, mainly this past year in 2020…It is time for me to move on and pursue other avenues and projects.”