Feist steps down from supporting Arcade Fire on tour after sexual misconduct claims against Win Butler

Feist has stepped down from the Arcade Fire tour.

In a report, three women have come forward to accuse the Reflektor singer of having sexual interactions with them which they felt were inappropriate due to the age gap between them; Butler was aged 34-39 when the incidents allegedly happened between 2015 and 2020, while the women were aged 18-23.

One fourth person, who is gender-fluid individual and uses they/them pronouns, alleged that Butler sexually assaulted them twice in 2015 when they were 21 years old.

Butler denied misconduct, saying all of the instances were consensual.

Canadian star Feist – full name Leslie Feist – shared a statement on social media, saying: ‘At a pub in Dublin, after rehearsing with my band, I read the same headline you did.

‘We didn’t have any time to prepare for what was coming let alone a chance to decide not to fly across the ocean into the belly of this situation.

‘This has been incredibly difficult for me and I can only imagine how much more difficult it’s been for the people who came forward. More than anything I wish healing to those involved.’

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She said that the claims ‘ignited a conversation that is bigger than me, it’s bigger than my songs and it’s certainly bigger than any rock and roll tour … To stay on tour would symbolize I was either defending or ignoring the harm caused by Win Butler and to leave would imply I was the judge and jury.’

Feist went on: ‘I was never here to stand for or with Arcade Fire – I was here to stand on my own two feet on a stage, a place I’ve grown to feel I belong and I’ve earned as my own.

‘There isn’t a singular path to heal when you’ve endured any version of the above, nor a singular path to rehabilitate the perpetrators.

‘It can be a lonely road to make sense of ill treatment. I can’t solve that by quitting, and I can’t solve it by staying. But I can’t continue.’

Butler, 42, has been married to his Arcade Fire bandmate Régine Chassange since 2003 and they share a nine-year-old son.

The musician has addressed the allegations in a lengthy statement denying the allegations of sexual misconduct, insisting the encounters were consensual.

‘I love Régine with all of my heart,’ Butler began in the statement shared with Pitchfork, who originally published the allegations.

‘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 judgement, and mistakes I have made.’

He stated: ‘I have had consensual relationships outside of my marriage.

The tour is going ahead

‘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.’

Butler continued: ‘I have never touched a woman against her will, and any implication that I have is simply false. I vehemently deny any suggestion that I forced myself on a woman or demanded sexual favors. That simply, and unequivocally, never happened. While these relationships were all consensual, I am very sorry to anyone who I have hurt with my behaviour. Life is filled with tremendous pain and error, and I never want to be part of causing someone else’s pain.’

Butler is married to Regine Chassagne

The American-Canadian singer went on to detail the struggles in his personal life, including ‘long struggles’ with mental health issues and the ‘ghosts of childhood abuse’, but insisted he wasn’t making excuses.

He said: ‘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 behaviour, but I do want to give some context and share what was happening in my life around this time…’

He concluded: ‘I say to you all my friends, family, to anyone I have hurt and to the people who love my music and are shocked and disappointed by this report: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the pain I caused – I’m sorry I wasn’t more aware and tuned in to the effect I have on people – I f***** up, and while not an excuse, I will continue to look forward and heal what can be healed, and learn from past experiences. I can do better and I will do better.’

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