Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler has been accused of sexual misconduct by four people, but the singer claims the relationships were consensual, according to a report.
One of the accusers, a gender-fluid person who uses s/he pronouns, alleged that Butler, now 42, sexually assaulted them twice in 2015 when they were 21 years old, according to Pitchfork.
Three of the accusers are women who say their relationships were inappropriate due to an age difference and “power dynamic” between them and the singer.
The women said the interactions occurred between 2016 and 2020, when they were between the ages of 18 and 23, Pitchfork reported. Butler was 36-39 during the alleged interactions.
Butler, who formed the indie rock group with his current wife Regine Chassagne in 2001, denied any wrongdoing through a spokesperson, who said the interactions were consensual and neither of them took the initiative.
The prosecutors each outlined their interactions with Pitchfork, describing alleged unwanted touches, kisses and photos of genitals. The singer said in a statement that he was going through a period of depression and heavy drinking at the time.
“There’s no easy way to say this, and the hardest thing I’ve ever done is to share this with my son. Most of these relationships were short-lived, and my wife knows that our marriage has been more unconventional than some in the past,” he said in a statement.
“I’ve interacted with people in person, at shows and through social media, and I’ve shared posts that I’m not proud of. Most importantly, all of these interactions were mutual and always between consenting adults. It’s deeply revisionist, and frankly just plain wrong, for someone else to suggest.
“I have never touched a woman against her will, and any implication 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 I have hurt with my behavior. Life is filled with tremendous pain and mistakes, and I never want to be part of causing anyone else’s pain .”