Polaris Award-winning musician Leslie Feist, who was opening for Arcade Fire in Dublin, has pulled out of the tour. The musician made the announcement in an Instagram post on Wednesday, citing sexual harassment allegations against Arcade Fire singer Win Butler as the reason for her departure. The allegations first gained public attention from the news outlet Pitchfork, which reported that four people have made allegations against Butler. CBC News was unable to independently verify these claims. They have not been proven in court. In two statements to Pitchfork, Butler denied all the allegations, saying the sexual interactions he had with the four people were consensual, but apologized “to anyone I hurt with my behavior.” In her post, Feist says she and her band were blindsided by the Pitchfork story, though they didn’t have time to decide whether to cancel their upcoming tour days later. The decision to leave now came from a desire for “distance [herself] from this tour, not from this debate,” while still advocating “public shaming.” “Staying on the tour would symbolize that I was either defending or ignoring the damage Winn Butler caused and leaving would mean that I was the judge and jury,” Feist wrote in her post. “It can be a lonely road to make sense of mistreatment. I can’t solve it by giving up, and I can’t solve it by staying. But I can’t go on.”
Radio stations pull Arcade Fire music
Several radio stations have removed the band’s discography from their lineup, including CBC Music and Toronto’s Indie88. Elsewhere, some fans have called for Arcade Fire to cancel their ongoing UK and Ireland tour following the allegations, although it has so far gone ahead as planned. Their first show in Dublin on 30 August saw the band open to “a standing ovation” according to the Los Angeles Times. The Guardian reported that Feist made no comment on the allegations at the time, but displayed a poster saying proceeds from her merchandise would go to the Irish charity Women’s Aid, which helps victims of domestic abuse. American musician Beck, who is scheduled to front the band on their North American tour starting in September, is still scheduled to perform. Meanwhile, Butler’s wife and Arcade Fire member Régine Chassagne also issued a statement defending Butler. “I know what’s in his heart and I know he has never and will never touch a woman without her consent and I’m sure he never did,” Chassagne said in the statement. “He’s lost his way and found his way back. I love him and I love the life we created together.” Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you, call 911.
title: “Feist Quits Arcade Fire Tour After Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Win Butler Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-07” author: “Chase Jones”
Polaris Award-winning musician Leslie Feist, who was opening for Arcade Fire in Dublin, has pulled out of the tour. The musician made the announcement in an Instagram post on Wednesday, citing sexual harassment allegations against Arcade Fire singer Win Butler as the reason for her departure. The allegations first gained public attention from the news outlet Pitchfork, which reported that four people have made allegations against Butler. CBC News was unable to independently verify these claims. They have not been proven in court. In two statements to Pitchfork, Butler denied all the allegations, saying the sexual interactions he had with the four people were consensual, but apologized “to anyone I hurt with my behavior.” In her post, Feist says she and her band were blindsided by the Pitchfork story, though they didn’t have time to decide whether to cancel their upcoming tour days later. The decision to leave now came from a desire for “distance [herself] from this tour, not from this debate,” while still advocating “public shaming.” “Staying on the tour would symbolize that I was either defending or ignoring the damage Winn Butler caused and leaving would mean that I was the judge and jury,” Feist wrote in her post. “It can be a lonely road to make sense of mistreatment. I can’t solve it by giving up, and I can’t solve it by staying. But I can’t go on.”
Radio stations pull Arcade Fire music
Several radio stations have removed the band’s discography from their lineup, including CBC Music and Toronto’s Indie88. Elsewhere, some fans have called for Arcade Fire to cancel their ongoing UK and Ireland tour following the allegations, although it has so far gone ahead as planned. Their first show in Dublin on 30 August saw the band open to “a standing ovation” according to the Los Angeles Times. The Guardian reported that Feist made no comment on the allegations at the time, but displayed a poster saying proceeds from her merchandise would go to the Irish charity Women’s Aid, which helps victims of domestic abuse. American musician Beck, who is scheduled to front the band on their North American tour starting in September, is still scheduled to perform. Meanwhile, Butler’s wife and Arcade Fire member Régine Chassagne also issued a statement defending Butler. “I know what’s in his heart and I know he has never and will never touch a woman without her consent and I’m sure he never did,” Chassagne said in the statement. “He’s lost his way and found his way back. I love him and I love the life we created together.” Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you, call 911.
