Singer Feist introduced Thursday she was leaving Arcade Fireplace’s tour following a bombshell report accusing the band’s frontman of sexual misconduct.
Leslie Feist, who performs by her final identify and hails from Canada, was a visitor artist on indie rock band Arcade Fireplace’s “We” Tour, which kicked off Tuesday in Dublin.
The band’s frontman, Win Butler, was accused by three ladies of inappropriate sexual interactions and of sexually assaulting a gender-fluid individual, in response to a Pitchfork report revealed Aug. 27. NBC Information has not independently confirmed the reporting.
The allegations, which Butler has denied, prompted Feist to exit the tour, saying, “I can’t proceed.”
“I’m imperfect and I’ll navigate this determination imperfectly, however what I’m positive of is one of the best ways to care for my band and crew and my household is to distance myself from this tour, not this dialog,” she stated in a lengthy letter to her followers.
The artist stated she discovered of the allegations when the report was revealed over the weekend.
“At a pub in Dublin, after rehearsing with my band, I learn the identical headline you probably did. We didn’t have any time to arrange for what was coming not to mention an opportunity to resolve to not fly throughout the ocean into the stomach of this example,” she stated.
She stated it has been “extremely tough” for her because the allegations in opposition to Butler surfaced.
“To remain on tour would symbolize I used to be both defending or ignoring the hurt attributable to Win Butler and to depart would suggest I used to be the choose and jury.”
She careworn, “I used to be by no means right here to face for or with Arcade Fireplace — I used to be right here to face by myself two ft on a stage.”
“All of us have a narrative inside a spectrum starting from baseline poisonous masculinity to pervasive misogyny to really being bodily, psychologically, emotionally or sexually assaulted,” Feist continued.
She stated her newest performances finally prompted her to depart from the tour.
“The final two nights on stage, my songs made this determination for me. Listening to them by way of this lens was incongruous with what I’ve labored to make clear for myself by way of my complete profession,” she wrote. “I’ve all the time written songs to call my very own refined difficulties, aspire to my finest self and declare duty once I have to. And I’m claiming my duty now and going residence.”
Talking on the accusers, she stated, “Greater than something I want therapeutic to these concerned.”
Arcade Fireplace stated in an announcement to NBC Information: “We’re very sorry to see Leslie go residence, however utterly perceive and respect her determination.”
Arcade Fireplace shaped in 2001 and gained a Grammy for Album of the 12 months in 2010.
Butler is married to bandmate Régine Chassagne, with whom they share a son.
The Pitchfork report outlines the accusers’ accounts of their interactions with Butler. Their names weren’t revealed.
The three ladies stated their sexual interactions with Butler have been inappropriate due to their age hole with the singer and energy dynamics. The gender-fluid accuser claimed Butler assaulted them twice in 2015.
Butler, nevertheless, shared a special account of the interactions with the accusers to Pitchfork. By way of a spokesperson for Risa Heller Communications, Butler denied the allegations, saying the interactions with all 4 accusers have been consensual.
“I’ve by no means touched a lady in opposition to her will, and any implication that I’ve is just false. I vehemently deny any suggestion that I compelled myself on a lady or demanded sexual favors. That merely, and unequivocally, by no means occurred,” he stated. “Whereas these relationships have been all consensual, I’m very sorry to anybody who I’ve damage with my habits.”
He defined that his spouse knew of the relationships, saying: “The vast majority of these relationships have been quick lived, and my spouse is conscious — our marriage has, up to now, been extra unconventional than some.”
He additionally famous that in his 30s he began consuming and suffered from heavy despair.
Chassagne additionally shared an announcement saying, “I do know what’s in (Butler’s) coronary heart, and I do know he has by no means, and would by no means, contact a lady with out her consent and I’m sure he by no means did. He has misplaced his method and he has discovered his method again. I really like him and love the life we’ve created collectively.”
