Sarah Palin gets the heavy metal treatment
The horror rock band Gwar disemboweled an effigy of Mama Grizzly at a recent concert. Whatever your feelings about Palin, that's "not cool," say commentators

The video: A recent performance by Gwar, a decades-old metal band known for its elaborate costumes and violent theatrics, has some commentators wondering if the tendency to attack Sarah Palin has gone too far. (View clip below.) At a recent concert, the band, clad in "full sci-fi gross-out regalia," pretended to disembowel a stand-in for the former Alaska governor as a crowd cheered. "I just want you to know that after tonight you will never have to worry about Sarah Palin being your president ever again," said a member of the band.
The reaction: "Hating Sarah Palin is a personal hobby of mine," says Maureen O'Connor at Gawker. "But there are lines even I won't cross... visceral hatred need not necessitate actual evisceration." Yeah, this is "not cool," says Noah Garfinkel at Best Week Ever. It just shows that "there is weird theatrical music out there that is worse than Sarah Palin." We're talking about Gwar here, says Current TV. "When you're a form of metal band which performs in a epic costumes, it's only natural you'd disembowel a mocked politician at some point during the set list." Warning: The following clip contains strong language.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The trial of Jair Bolsonaro, the 'Trump of the tropics'
The Explainer Brazil's former president will likely be found guilty of attempting military coup, despite US pressure and Trump allegiance
-
Telephobia: why young people are being taught how to make phone calls
In The Spotlight Young people are so scared of calls that they 'scream' when their phone rings
-
Sudoku medium: September 2, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: which party are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event