Nuno Bettencourt Apologizes To Richard Fortus + Slash, Fortus Responds

Nuno Bettencourt has issued an apology on social media to Guns N’ Roses guitarists Richard Fortus and Slash for comments he made over the past few weeks, and Fortus responded.

The exchange began as a result of an interview Bettencourt recently did with Planet Rock, where he described the challenges of playing guitar for Rihanna and said Slash would even have a hard time doing so. “Slash is one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, but I guarantee – and he would be the first to tell you – that if he dances and he’s played a clean introduction to Rude Boy by Rihanna, it’s not happening,” he said.

Fortus, who has been in Guns N’ Roses since 2002 and thus bandmates with Slash since he joined the group in 2016, posted a screenshot of the interview on his Instagram and wrote in the caption that he “respectfully” disagreed.

“[Bettencourt] he’s one of the greats, for sure. However, there is very little Slash could not do on the guitar (if he wanted). I toured with Rihanna before Nuno, and I spent a lot of time playing with Slash. This concert would not be a fight for him,” the full caption read.

Bettencourt then fired back at Fortus in a post of his own, writing, “@4tus I’ve never heard of you playing a note in my 56 years of being alive and only knowing your name from the Rihanna camp and as a substitute player on the gun… And @4tus if you knew me at all and where my heart is you would know that what I meant in this statement wasn’t about Slash or his ability, it was about rock guitarists like me or Slash switching genres and playing those feelings.”

Many of Bettencourt’s fans commented on the guitarist’s post, insinuating that he had thrown the situation out of proportion in his response and was “inappropriate” with Fortus.

“I admire you Nuno, you are one of the greatest in history and your evolution over the years is being amazing, but Fortus has disrespected you because you insulted him in so many ways,” one of the commentators said.

Bettencourt uploaded a four-minute video to his Instagram earlier today (July 27) to address and apologise for his previous comments.

“I’m not that guy, I don’t want to be that guy. I’m not interested in this shit, it actually makes me sick,” Bettencourt said, noting how widespread the situation had become. “The bottom line is, this is for me. I have to keep my mouth shut. I was asked a question about Rihanna, and my answer was ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I will take full responsibility for it… I tried to make a point, it kind of backfired on me. I do a lot of press, and every once in a while you say stupid shit.”

The guitarist added that going forward, he will only discuss his work with Extreme so that he doesn’t say anything that could hurt someone else.

“Don’t ask me about Slash or Guns or Richard Fortus, to whom I owe an apology. Richard-sorry brother. This is ridiculous, you had a full right to protect your brother, even if it was in the easiest way or whatever it was, you’re correct,” rocker continued. “I don’t like to hurt people, I don’t like to talk badly about anyone, and all of that comes from me… He came across very arrogant, he came across very offensive and people love this shit. They feed off of her.”

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“If I had heard Richard play before — which I hadn’t — that doesn’t give me the right to make that comment… Apologies again to Richard, who is obviously a great guitarist. He’s playing with guns, he must be amazing,” he added.

Bettencourt concluded that he didn’t know why he mentioned Slash in the initial interview in the first place, and that he hopes to have a beer with Fortus at some point in the future so they can laugh about the whole situation.

“Contacting you directly to make arrangements for that beer,” Fortus commented on the post, which you can watch in full below.