"I've stood silently and taken it for years," Reynolds begins a lengthy message he shared on Instagram.
Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds took aim at his band's critics.
The singer took to Instagram late Wednesday to send a lengthy message to everyone who's ever indulged the "clickbait horseshit" criticism of his band, which is made up of lead guitarist Daniel Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummers Daniel Platzman and Andrew Tolman.
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View Story"For a decade now, I've dealt with critics and other bands saying extremely harsh things about my band, not what I would call 'fair criticism' (which I always try my best to receive and learn from), but actual clickbait horseshit," he wrote on Instagram. "Words filled with vile and hate, meant to feed humanity's need to laugh at each other's imperfections and fails."
"I've stood silently and taken it for years," he continued, adding that the harsh criticism has actually aggravated the depression he's been battling since youth. Reynolds maintained he doesn't want sympathy, just to speak his truth.
"It's not the person that causes me the feelings of stress and depression, but what it does to the world we, as a band, have created," he added. "How it could possibly make a kid feel 'not cool' listening to Imagine Dragons. I hate that thought -- wondering if my kids will be made fun of as they grow older because someone thinks my band isn't cool."
Reynolds and wife Aja Volkman have three daughters together.
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View StoryThe singer also called out fellow bands that he claims have spoken poorly of the group, including The 1975, Foster the People, The Smashing Pumpkins and Slipknot. Slipknot's Corey Taylor recently called the band "awful."
"I've gotten over the fact that guys in other bands feel a need to talk badly about my band for whatever reason," he said. "I don't feel anger towards them actually, just more of a sadness that this industry embraces -- even celebrates -- this mentality. I wish it felt like a place where artists stood by each other and supported one another, regardless of our different tastes and voices."
Reynolds concluded his message on a positive note, letting his haters know he and his bandmates are here to stay.
"My bandmates are some of my best friends. We are authentically ourselves and strive to bring positivity and empowerment to the world," he said. "And we'll continue to do just that."
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