After a backlash from fans, Snider has talked about the fervor on an episode of his Snider Comments podcast. He says (via Blabbermouth): "The fact of the matter is, it was the truth. And there was quite a bit of a reaction on social media, like, 'Dee Snider bashes his drummer.' The word 'bash' and 'attack.' And the first thing I said was, 'I love the guy.' And why would anybody be upset with someone doing what AJ did unless they cared about them deeply and loved them deeply?

"People die every day, and I don't go as far as to speak out about the way they chose to go. You know, I spoke out about AJ because I'm hurt, and his family is hurt, and world he left behind is in complete turmoil as a result of it."