An online petition is calling for a controversial musician to be investigated for suspected animal cruelty.
The petition, organized by Care2, claims that As I Lay Dying’s frontman Tim Lambesis “became overcome by rage and frustration and began violently wailing on his poor, trembling, frightened dog.”
The petition references leaked home security footage that surfaced online in January. In the footage, Lambesis was reportedly seen hitting and kicking his own dog out of frustration, according to Vice.
At the time, Lambesis did not comment on the footage. However, his ex-wife Dany denied any involvement in leaking the footage.
“I did not release the videos that have come out of Tim Lambesis. Not the ones that were released in November, nor the ones that were released today,” she wrote in an Instagram post, Vice reported. “Out of respect for me, I’m asking whoever is leaking videos to please stop.”
In 2014, Lambesis was convicted of hiring a hitman to murder his wife. The singer was sentenced to serve six years in prison but only served two. He was released on parole in December 2016, according to Metal Injection. Lambesis resurrected As I Lay Dying in 2017, per the outlet.
In November 2024, a series of videos was leaked that showed Lambesis having violent outbursts while around his ex-wife in their home.
Lambesis then released a statement saying he had filed a restraining order against Dany and alleged she had been subjecting him to physical and mental abuse for three years. The couple divorced in late 2024.
“It isn’t a huge surprise to learn that someone who’s been found guilty and convicted of domestic violence would now also be committing animal abuse,” the petition reads.
“Studies have repeatedly found a connection between cruelty against animals, and cruelty against other humans,” it continues. “This man is clearly not safe around animals or people, and the only way to cure that is with dedicated psychotherapy treatment. Urge California authorities to mandate intensive mental health counseling for this individual!”
Several members of As I Lay Dying have abruptly left the band since Lambesis’ return including guitarist Ken Susi, bassist Ryan Neff and drummer Nick Pierce who all announced their departures in October 2024.
During an interview with the BREWtally Speaking podcast, Susi explained how Lambesis used his incarceration to formulate “this like almost reality TV persona for his fanbase of like him portraying himself as his man of redemption or rehabilitation.”
However, the guitarist said the breaking point occurred at his house when he invited everyone back after the band’s New England Metal and Hardcore Fest performance.
Susi explained that Lambesis and Dany were not getting along at the time. Susi had offered the then-couple to stay at his house, and an unfortunate incident allegedly occurred.
“This guy like comes into my house in the middle of the night, corners his wife in my kitchen and spits in her face. And then retracts four or five steps back and has some type of episode, which I’ve never seen out of somebody before in my entire life,” recalled Susi. “And then starts screaming and running around my house for help. And it alarmed my wife. She woke up and she’s like, ‘What’s going on?’ And I’m like, ‘I’ve heard him scream for help before.’ I’m going to go see what’s going on.‘”
Susi then asked Lambesis to leave and decided he would exit the day after. The bassist has security cameras around his house and had recorded the alleged incident. Once Susi sent a message to Lambesis’s ex-wife that he was quitting, Lambesis claimed he’d sue Susi if he ever released the footage because he didn’t know — he was filmed without his consent.
After that incident, Susi believes there is absolutely no room for him and Lambesis to patch things up.
“I don’t respect what he’s done, and I’ll never respect it,” he said. “Just don’t abuse your wife in my f—ing house and put my integrity on the line. And someone needs to say something.”
Lambesis is currently the only member of As I Lay Dying.
The petition has gotten more than 70,000 signatures as of Friday morning, April 11.
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