Warped Tour acts are speaking out against the inclusion of singer-songwriter Jake McElfresh, better known by his stage name Front Porch Step.
And this isn’t standard scene in-fighting. McElfresh is accused of sexual harassment of several underage girls. While no charges have been filed, several young girls have come forward in the last few months on Tumblr, sharing stories about sexually explicit photos and texts that McElfresh sent them. One even included photos as proof.
Six months ago, a petition was started on Change.org to remove Front Porch Step from the tour. From the petition:
“We believe that Front Porch Step should not be allowed to play Vans Warped Tour and be given a national venue where he has access to the young girls who attend Warped Tour. We are asking Kevin Lyman and Vans Warped Tour to take Front Porch Step off the tour before something more than sending texts happens. Do not put your fans at risk, Kevin.”
The petition received more than 13,000 signatures, and Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour’s founder) appeared to confirm FPS’ removal from the tour in May. However, FPS played a set on the Acoustic Basement Stage in Nashville Wednesday.
In light of this, Dan “Soupy” Campbell of The Wonder Years cancelled his solo set on the stage and encouraged festival-goers to see Man Overboard during McElfresh’s set time.
https://instagram.com/p/4mXWkenLqB/
Senses Fail echoed Campbell’s sentiments on Twitter.
@Frontporchstep you should not be playing today. Don't watch, don't buy! Go support @ManOverboardNJ playing at the same time.
— Senses Fail (@SensesFail) July 1, 2015
Cute Is What We Aim For bassist Seth Van Dusen also urged fans not to see FPS’ set.
https://twitter.com/SethVanDusen/status/616307428645167104
Taylor Lumley of Beartooth took it a step further, threatening McElfresh if he decides to stay on with the tour.
https://twitter.com/tlums/status/616280351288246272
Lyman commented on the growing controversy.
“He was only supposed to be here long enough to play his show, but the weather today has been putting us behind schedule. He wasn’t added to the tour, so those claims that he was ‘added to sell tickets’ are completely groundless.”
…
Lyman also stressed that because Mcelfresh has still not been formally charged with any misconduct, he agreed to have him perform. “If he was a legitimate danger to anyone, he simply would not have been here.”
For his part, McElfresh addressed the allegations back in January.
“I am aware of the serious allegations and sensational things being posted on the internet about me and my personal life,” he said. “While this is personally difficult to experience, I am taking the appropriate, meaningful, and objective steps to address the severity of these things and the horrendous words being used. I would truly hope that others who have or will propagate these serious allegations will do the same.”
(Via Alternative Press)
