Eagles of Death Metal's Jesse Hughes apologizes for 'absurd accusations' against Bataclan

Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes is backtracking on comments he made earlier this week suggesting that security at Paris' Bataclan theater may have been in on the attacks that killed 89 people during the band's show on November 13, calling them "absurd accusations."

On Wednesday, Hughes told Fox Business Network that before the show, he found out that "six or so" security guards failed to show up that night. "It seems rather obvious that they had a reason not to show up," he said. 

The venue responded Thursday calling his statements not only defamatory, but "insane."

“Jesse Hughes spread some very grave and defamatory accusations against the Bataclan teams,” a representative for the venue told Variety. “A judicial investigation is undergoing. We wish to let justice proceed serenely. All the testimonies gathered to this day demonstrate the professionalism and courage of the security agents who were on the ground on November 13. Hundreds of people were saved thanks to (these agents’) intervention.”

Hughes called the suggestions "unfounded and baseless" in a statement on the band's Facebook page Friday. 

"I humbly beg forgiveness from the people of France, the staff and security of the Bataclan, my fans, family, friends and anyone else hurt or offended by the absurd accusations I made in my Fox Business Channel interview," he said in a statement on Facebook on Friday. "My suggestions that anyone affiliated with the Bataclan played a role in the events of November 13 are unfounded and baseless—and I take full responsibility for them. They do not reflect opinions of my bandmates or anyone associated with Eagles of Death Metal. The shame is 100% mine. I’ve been dealing with non-stop nightmares and struggling through therapy to make sense of this tragedy and insanity. I haven’t been myself since November 13. I realize there’s no excuse for my words, but for what it’s worth: I am sincerely sorry for having hurt, disrespected or accused anyone."

Eagles of Death Metal returned to the Bataclan in December and, in an interview that month, Hughes said he wants the Eagles of Death Metal to be the first to play at the venue when it reopens.

“Our friends went there to see rock and roll and died," he said in an interview with Vice. "I’m gonna go back there and live.”

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