Fat White Family hit back at “baseless tales of implosion” and split claims

Fat White Family have hit back at what they describe as “baseless tales of implosion” and claims that they have disbanded.

The group shared the update on Facebook earlier today (April 30), alongside a link to their recent appearance on the Riley & Coe Live In Session with BBC Sounds.

With the caption, the indie group seemed to address recent reports that they had split, and confirm that they are still together and set to embark on the upcoming live shows as scheduled.

“Baseless tales of implosion in the gutter press this morning,” they began.

“Allow me to clarify a few things… Fat Whites isn’t a band. It’s an idea. Like liberalism. Or tennis. No one is definitively in or out of tennis. At any given moment, some people are playing tennis, others are not. This might be due to injury, prior commitments, marital problems, depression or drug issues. Regardless, tennis itself lives on. Has no choice but to live on. It is undying. Beyond reproach. Pure.

“In effect, we are ALL tennis and NOBODY is tennis. Tennis cannot ‘split up’,” they added. “Big thanks to Riley & Coe and @bbc6music for having us on the show last night.

Although the group did not openly state which reports they were referring to, it does seem that the comments may be referring to a recent article by Metro, which was shared earlier today.

In the piece, the outlet speculated that the band “appear to have gone their separate ways”, following frontman Lias Saoudi allegedly stating that he was no longer working with the rest of the band because of a “complete breakdown”.

It also highlighted the approach that the members have taken towards the line-up in the past, with the singer previously telling The Independent that the band had “always been a revolving door of members and contributors”.

The reports about the band’s status come just days after Fat White Family shared their fourth studio album ‘Forgiveness Is Yours’ – which NME described as “their most accomplished album” to date.

“‘Forgiveness Is Yours’ [is] a collection that sees them burrow further down the rabbit-hole of respectability with typical rapaciousness,” read the four-star review.

“That mix of realism and whimsy epitomises a brilliantly inventive record that concludes with a bit of sarky musical theatre (which may be aimed at Adamczewski). Saoudi has hinted that this could be Fat Whites’ final album. If so, they’ve gone out on the most surprising note of all.”

As well as the new album, the band also recently shared news of a 2024 UK and European tour and were confirmed for Glastonbury’s Woodsies main stage. You can find a full list of dates here and visit here for remaining tickets.