Win Butler of the Grammy-winning band Arcade Fire has been accused of sexual misconduct by his fans.
According to Pitchfork, Butler is facing four allegations of sexual misconduct by significantly younger fans of the group.
Four women, all using pseudonyms, were interviewed for the article. They were between the ages of 18 and 23 when their interactions with Butler took place. He was between 36 and 39.
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Following one of the alleged incidents of misconduct, one of the women attempted suicide with an overdose of painkillers.
The publication reported that their accounts were backed up by interviews with family members and a review of the text and social media messages between Butler and the alleged victims.
They claimed that Butler sexually assaulted them twice in 2015 when they were just 21 years old.
Sharing more details about their interaction, they said that it first happened when they were riding in a car and the second time at their apartment where he showed up despite texting him not to come.
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They also accused the singer of sending explicit texts, and photos of his genitals and forcing one of them by entering her apartment without her consent.
Two women also provided a screen grab of their chat in which he (Butler) is urging them to keep this interaction to themselves. “Just promise me it’s private and you won’t tell people I messaged you or screen grab it or anything!” an alleged message reads via Pitchfork.
Butler, who formed the group released a full statement via his spokesperson in which he stated that all the relationship was consensual and he was not the one who initiated it.
Butler is married to his co-singer Regine Chassagne. The couple together created the rock band in 2001, got married in 2003, and have a son together.
”I love Régine with all of my heart. We have been together for twenty years, she is my partner in music and in life, my soulmate, and I am lucky and grateful to have her by my side. But at times, it has been difficult to balance being the father, husband, and bandmate that I want to be. Today I want to clear the air about my life, poor judgment, and mistakes I have made.” He said.
”I have had consensual relationships outside of my marriage.”
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”There is no easy way to say this, and the hardest thing I have ever done is having to share this with my son. The majority of these relationships were short-lived, and my wife is aware – our marriage has, in the past, been more unconventional than some. I have connected with people in person, at shows, and through social media, and I have shared messages of which I am not proud. Most importantly, every single one of these interactions has been mutual and always between consenting adults. It is deeply revisionist, and frankly just wrong, for anyone to suggest otherwise.”
In the statement, he also stated that it was a tough period for him as he was dealing with mental health and was a heavy drinker.
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”I have long struggled with mental health issues and the ghosts of childhood abuse. In my 30s, I started drinking as I dealt with the heaviest depression of my life after our family experienced a miscarriage. None of this is intended to excuse my behavior, but I do want to give some context and share what was happening in my life around this time. I no longer recognized myself or the person I had become. Régine waited patiently watching me suffer and tried to help me as best as she could. I know it must have been so hard for her to watch the person she loved so lost.”
