Arcade Fireplace frontman Win Butler has been accused of sexual assault by a number of folks — all of which he claims have been “consensual” encounters.
Three ladies and one individual, who identifies as gender-fluid and makes use of they/them pronouns, claimed in an interview with Pitchfork shared Saturday that Butler, 42, assaulted them and used his standing as a musician to stress them into sexual conditions.
The alleged victims have been between the ages 18 to 23 when the sexual advances from the musician occurred between 2016 and 2020, they instructed the outlet. Butler was 36 firstly of the allegations.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Butler.
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What’s Win Butler accused of?
In interviews with the alleged victims, most shared how their interactions with Butler started as a result of they have been followers and progressively progressed to their boundaries being ignored.
“To me he was simply one other creepy previous man, and to her it was her hero,” a good friend of one of many accusers instructed Pitchfork, describing an evening once they have been out with Butler.
One other individual, dubbed Sarah, described being pushed to have video intercourse with the musician.
“I did all the things as a result of it was him,” Sarah stated. “I bear in mind being so nervous and so ashamed that I did it,” Sarah stated. “He used me, mainly, as his private therapist, and straightforward technique to get intercourse over the cellphone.”
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One alleged sufferer with the pseudonym Fiona stated she tried suicide after having intercourse with Butler after a live performance in Vancouver in 2017.
“The toll of getting to maintain all the things secret, consistently pushing my wants apart with a view to appease him, lack of boundaries, and the guilt of being the opposite lady was getting too exhausting to disregard,” Fiona stated.
Butler, who’s married to Arcade Fireplace’s Régine Chassagne, countered each story instructed by the accusers in statements to Pitchfork.
How has Butler responded?
The musician claimed he mentioned the encounter with Fiona they usually grew a friendship.
“We instantly talked on the cellphone and though she indicated her despair was not associated to me, I left that dialog dedicated to by no means sleeping with somebody once more that I basically knew so little about. It actually shook me,” he stated. “Though she repeated it was unrelated to me, she was affected by psychological sickness, to which I’m very sympathetic.”
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The musician instructed Pitchfork he “had consensual relationships outdoors of my marriage,” however denied any of the situations have been sexual assault.
“I vehemently deny any suggestion that I compelled myself on a lady or demanded sexual favors. That merely, and unequivocally, by no means occurred,” Butler stated.
Butler stated that he is struggled with alcoholism, psychological well being points and “the ghosts of childhood abuse.”
“None of that is supposed to excuse my habits, however I do need to give some context and share what was occurring in my life round this time,” Butler stated, including that he is “put vital time and vitality into remedy and therapeutic, together with attending AA.”
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“I’m extra conscious now of how my public persona can distort relationships even when a scenario feels pleasant and optimistic to me,” the Arcade Fireplace frontman stated.
Regardless of the infidelity, Butler’s spouse Chassagne stated her husband is her “soulmate.”
“I’ve stood by him as a result of I do know he is an efficient man who cares about this world, our band, his followers, mates, and our household,” she stated. “I do know what’s in his 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.”
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