The leader of the most relevant alternative rock band of the 21st century faces serious accusations of sexual abuse

Win Butler, lead singer and songwriter for the Canadian band Arcade Fire faces serious allegations of sexual abuse, through complaints that were published this week (Photo: Cole Burston – Reuters)

The Canadian group indie rock Arcade Fire is one of the biggest names in global rock, with fans all over the world. Now, some allegations of abuse have come to light that point to Win Butler, their leader, singer and main songwriter. A bomb that put at stake the stability of the band and the continuity of a tour that began last Friday. There are fans wanting to return the concert tickets and the singer Feist, also Canadian, resigned to participate in the tour that had her as an opening act. Behind all the media noise mounted around the complaints -revealed in a note from the most relevant web magazine of rock in this century-, there is a story to tell that shakes the reputation of a musician praised for his talent, sensitivity and social commitment .

Who are Arcade Fire

Originally from Canada, the evolution they had is no small thing: it went from being a group made up of Butler and his wife, Regine Chassangeat the beginning of the 2000s, to be among the 200 most influential groups of the last 25 years according to the magazine Pitchforksharing space with Aphex Twin, björkgoing by Beyoncé and even Puerto Rican bad bunny.

With six studio albums published, and which led them to collect millions of dollars worldwide, in 2010 they achieved artistic and commercial consecration after the release of The Suburbs. With this album full of songs with an elaborate melodic construction and deep lyrics they won the Grammy Award for “Album of the Year” and the Brit Award for “Best International Album”, both given in 2011.

According to the investigation published by the online magazine Pitchfork, Win Butler was accused by four people of inappropriate sexual relations given the differences in age, power dynamics and the context in which they occurred (EFE/Jose Coelho)
According to the investigation published by the online magazine Pitchfork, Win Butler was accused by four people of inappropriate sexual relations given the differences in age, power dynamics and the context in which they occurred (EFE/Jose Coelho)

Since its inception, Arcade Fire has been transformed as new works were produced in the recording studio, and brought out its versatility and originality with musical influences that stem from baroque, folk, indie and art rock, to venture into synth. pop and more danceable rhythms. collaborated with David Bowie -the first big pop star who noticed them and promoted them-, Thomas Bangalter by daft punk, James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem, and David Byrne.

Arcade Fire played twice in Argentina: the first time at the inaugural edition of the Lollapalooza Festival in 2014, where they shared the line-up with New Order, Johnny Marr and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Three years later they performed at the BUE Festival in Tecnópolis, where Gorillaz and He Killed a Motorized Police also performed, among other renowned artists.

A journalistic investigation revealed the abuses

During the last days of August, Pitchfork published a four-month investigation with testimonies from victims of abuse by Win Butler, where inappropriate sexual behavior, large age differences, power relations and abuse, among other aspects, were specified. The note was based on screenshots of text messages, direct messages from the network Instagram and additional testimonies from relatives and acquaintances of the victims.

In this sense, three women pointed out that the situations occurred between their 18 and 20 years, when they were fans of Arcade Fire, and he was already between 36 and 38 years old. Sarah, Fiona and Stella detailed different situations with the composer: in general terms, the three pointed out personal and virtual encounters with Butler, who asked them for sexual videos and photos, as well as sending risque photos and text messages without consent. of them.

In addition, the note details that as a result of the situations, several of them ended up with diagnosed depression and problems related to mental health due to the guilt and psychological manipulation they suffered at the hands of the star. “I did it because it was him. I don’t like to make any type of video, especially if it’s sexual stuff. He used me as his personal therapist, and as an easy way to have sex over the phone, ”said one of the complainants. Later, Butler defended himself from the situation saying that it was a fan obsessed with him.

A similar case occurred with Fiona, who pointed out that Win asked her for sexual videos after an Arcade Fire recital in 2017, when she was already 20 years old, and that in that case they had intimate encounters. The witness highlighted that she felt “depressed” by the situation, as she also admitted that it was difficult for her to “keep the secret” and having to face the guilt of “being the second woman” in the famous man’s life.

On the other hand, a young woman who called herself Stella said that the musician contacted her via Instagram message after uploading a photo of the album tour reflector, where he wore an original costume inspired by the costumes used by the band on stage. As a result, they began to talk through her phone lines and the singer sent sexual photos and videos to the young woman who had just turned 18.

In that sense, a couple of years ago the victim had scrambled the singer in a story on his Instagram account, where he described him as a “sexual predator”, specified all those details and also added that despite having blocked him from his cell phone , continued to contact her through other lines.

Testimony and complaint of abuse made on an Instagram account against Win Butler, singer and leader of the Canadian band Arcade Fire
Testimony and complaint of abuse made on an Instagram account against Win Butler, singer and leader of the Canadian band Arcade Fire

A fourth non-binary person, who chose the name Lily, also added her testimony to the music magazine. There she noted that Butler sexually abused him/her twice in 2015, when the complainant was 21 and the artist was 34 years old. They exchanged messages for several weeks and although they had a first date, nothing happened in that meeting since they were both in a relationship.

“It’s not like I haven’t made it too clear, but if this involves having sex, then you found me at the wrong time,” Lily told him on January 17, 2015. Although they continued to chat, the situation began to worsen, and in this sense, the artist gave details of kisses that did not occur and non-consensual contact according to the person who declared, as well as situations that never happened. During the second meeting, there was a situation of abuse, where she said that the famous musician touched his body without consent while they were in a car after having dinner together.

Two days later the picture darkened even more, when Butler went to Lily’s apartment, after having insisted several times and having received a resounding refusal. About the scene, the person narrated: “I opened the door for him and the first thing he did was corner me against the wall, grab my body very aggressively and stick his tongue down my throat.”

The non-binary person claimed to have felt exposed to situations of psychological manipulation, seeing himself sending messages apologizing to the singer and putting himself in a position of submission as a result of the manipulative behaviors that he had shown him.

Régine Chassagne and Win Butler, spouses and founders of Arcade Fire
Régine Chassagne and Win Butler, spouses and founders of Arcade Fire

Butler’s Defense

Due, Win Butler He wanted to deny the Pitchfork note and stated that they were extramarital affairs, and there was some kind of sexual contact, but that they were all with mutual consent. “I will continue to learn from my mistakes and work hard to be a better person, someone my son can be proud of. I’m sorry I wasn’t more aware of it. I screwed it up and, without making excuses, I will continue to look forward and heal what can be healed, and learn from past experiences.”

In the same statement, he also emphasized the depression he has suffered for years, as well as the “ghosts of abuse” he suffered in his childhood. “At the age of 30, I began to drink alcohol without any control as a result of the miscarriage that we suffered in our family,” she revealed.

Also, his wife and band member since the early 2000s, Regine Chassagne, chose to side with him, unloading: “Win ​​is my soulmate, my bandmate, my husband, and the father of my beautiful child. He is a good man who would never do anything without the consent of the other person and I know what is in his heart”. “He is a man who cares about the world and I know he would never touch a woman without his consent. I love him and I love the life we ​​have created together, ”he concluded in another statement.

Arcade Fire, one of the most relevant rock bands of the 21st century, performed twice in Buenos Aires, in 2014 and 2018 (REUTERS / Cole Burston)
Arcade Fire, one of the most relevant rock bands of the 21st century, performed twice in Buenos Aires, in 2014 and 2018 (REUTERS / Cole Burston)

Both the uncovering of the abuse caused by Butler, and the defense of Chassagne, aroused the shock in their fans. The band’s frontman always conveyed an image that just doesn’t coincide with these latest news that bear his name and surname. In addition to the musical quality of its songs, Arcade Fire is an important public broadcasting platform for various political and social causes.

In addition, the musician, along with his partner, has several times donated large amounts of money to charities, showing himself to the world with a philanthropic and progressive profile. That is precisely what shocked and generated indignation in his followers. Thousands of his fans repudiated Butler’s actions on social networks, and a great controversy was generated: there was a return of tickets for future concerts of the European tour by hundreds of people, as well as the departure of the Canadian singer Feist, in charge of opening the Arcade Fire shows. After the first show they shared in Dublin, Ireland, Feist announced his departure from the tour.

Feist, hired to open for Arcade Fire's ongoing tour, has decided to retire from this role.
Feist, hired to open for Arcade Fire’s ongoing tour, has decided to retire from this role.

Although the artist was pressured by the record company to maintain her presentation on the tour according to the contract she signed, she publicly raised her voice and sided with the complainants.

“I was never here to position myself on the side of Arcade Fire, but to assert the place I deserve along with my band. This situation touches several corners of our lives and speaks to us in a language that is difficult for us to process. There is no particular path to healing, and I can’t do it by quitting, let alone staying, but I definitely can’t do it by staying on this tour. I have to go home,” he said.

In response to that, Arcade Fire was sympathetic to Feist’s decision, saying in a statement, “We’re very sorry to see Leslie go home, but we fully understand and respect the decision.”

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The leader of the most relevant alternative rock band of the 21st century faces serious accusations of sexual abuse