Perennial dickhead shoegazers Whirr found themselves in a shitstorm earlier this week after some transphobic tweets about the Olympia punk band G.L.O.S.S. caused two labels to sever ties with them. Bassist Nick Bassett posted an apology soon after, claiming that the tweets were sent by a friend who was using their account, and he’s clarified his story in a statement issued to Billboard.

He explains that the band “decided it would be funny if we had our merch guy/friend of the band run [their Twitter], with the exception of me chiming in from time to time,” because the friend could mimic the style (“purposefully immature and not to be taken seriously or to heart in away,” he says) of their other social media accounts.

Bassett says that he wrote the original “Lol @ G.L.O.S.S.” tweet, but that his friend wrote the rest of them. He claims that the tweet was in regards to “rumors of G.L.O.S.S. saying certain types of people weren’t allowed/meant to be at their shows, and not selling merch to certain people based on what type of individual they were.”

“I understand that in giving our friend access to our Twitter account, we were giving him our ‘voice’ to the public as far as social media goes, and I have to bear responsibility for that,” Bassett told Billboard. “I would like to commend the scene for coming together on this issue, and taking such quick action when it comes to confronting transphobia. I know that I have a long way to go in terms of earning back the trust of our former friends and fans. I wholeheartedly accept that challenge.”

He also notes that the band has disassociated from the friend he claims wrote the tweets, and adds: “Anyone that has reached out to the band or me personally wanting to discuss the situation, I have tried my best to explain the situation and sincerely apologize for what was posted. I welcome a dialogue.”

Billboard also reached out to G.L.O.S.S.’s Sadie Switchblade, who had the following to say: “Here’s our quote: ‘Whirr can suck my transexual dick now and forever, no one likes you//no one cares. Bye! =o)'”