Before the Columbine High School massacre , perpetrator Dylan Klebold referenced lyrics from Nine Inch Nails songs multiple times in his journal . Klebold heavily identified with the protagonist of '' The Downward Spiral '' as a symbol of his own depression . On May 4 , 1999 , a hearing on the marketing and distribution practices of violent content to minors by the television , music , film , and video game industries was conducted before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce , Science and Transportation . The committee heard testimony from cultural observers , professors , and mental health professionals , that included conservative William Bennett and the Archbishop of Denver , Reverend Charles J. Chaput . Participants criticized the album , Nine Inch Nails ' label-mate Marilyn Manson , and the 1999 film '' The Matrix '' for their alleged contribution to the environment that made tragedies like Columbine possible . The committee requested that the Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice investigate the entertainment industry 's marketing practices to minors
Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Downward Spiral