Win Butler, the lead singer of the Canadian band Arcade Fire, currently on tour, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct and “inappropriate” behaviour that allegedly took place between 2015 and 2020. The allegations are according to four anonymous testimonies published by the music site Pitchfork.
The singer has confirmed he had sex with the four people making the allegations, but claims they were all consenting.
“I have never touched a woman against her will,” claimed Win Butler, in a press release sent to Pitchfork on Saturday.
“Although these relationships were all consensual, I am truly sorry for all those whom I have hurt by my behaviour”, adds the artist who mentions having gone through depression and alcohol problems in recent years.
One of the alleged victims, a non-binary person, who was 21 years old in 2015, claims to have been sexually assaulted by the singer, who was 34 years old, reports Pitchfork, a website known to be a reference point for the independent music scene.
Win Butler allegedly slipped his hand down his pants during a car ride. “I opened my door and he slammed me against the wall and aggressively grabbed my body and put his tongue in my mouth,” says ‘Lily’, who uses an alias, like the others. testimonials. “Lily” goes on to explain that the singer allegedly put his hand down their pants again, without his consent, inside the alleged victim’s apartment.
Three women, aged 18 to 23 between 2016 and 2020, describe having also had “inappropriate” interactions due to “age difference, power dynamics and context.”
At the time, the Arcade Fire star was between 36 and 39 years old. One of them, “Stella”, who was 18 in 2016, says she was contacted by the singer, who allegedly sent her messages and photos of a sexual nature, not requested by the alleged victim.
The wife of Win Butler, and also co-founder of the group, Montrealer Régine Chassagne, assures that “he would never touch a woman without her consent, and I am sure he never did”, in another press release addressed at Pitchfork.
The allegations came days before the band kicked off their new tour in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday night. It was reported on Wednesday morning that the support act, Feist, donated her merchandise revenue from the night to a women's aid organisation.
Arcade Fire returned in May with a new album entitled “We”. They are due to play at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp on the 12 September 2022.
