Real Estate revealed recently that guitarist Matt Mondanile was fired from the band in 2016 after “allegations of unacceptable treatment of women were brought to our attention.” This led to several women accusing Mondanile of sexual assault, and now, Mondanile has responded to these allegations.
In a statement released through his lawyers, Mondanile calls himself an “insensitive creep” and apologizes for his “inappropriate behavior,” saying he “took advantage of my position as a musician”:
“I’ve been an insensitive creep and again I apologize to everyone and anyone who was affected by this. I respect and commend the women who have come forward. Their breaking silence has compelled me to seek a more intense course of self-reflection, and personal development. I make no excuses for my behavior, I only want everyone to be ok. Words cannot convey how truly sorry I am.”
Elsewhere in the statement, Mondanile’s lawyers write that while “Matthew accepts responsibility for his less than exemplary behavior” and “has been far from sensitive in his pursuit of women,” they note that “Matt’s attorneys insist that it should be known that for each of the instances described in the media and online, there are two sides to these stories.”
Mondanile’s lawyers also write that upon the guitarist’s departure from Real Estate, he signed a “leaving agreement,” which forbade either party from publicly saying negative things about each other. “In violating the terms of the agreement,” Mondanile’s lawyers write, “Real Estate band members were not ‘protecting the victims,’ they were instead protecting themselves by sidestepping the controversy to protect the band’s commercial viability.”
Find the full statement from Mondanile’s lawyers below.
“Recently, there have been allegations and articles circulating regarding Musician Matthew Mondanile’s past conduct toward women. This statement, issued through his attorneys, is intended as a general response to what has been written.
First and foremost, Matt would like to apologize: ‘I am endlessly sorry for my inappropriate behavior. I took advantage of my position as a musician, though I never intended to hurt anyone emotionally or otherwise. I’ve been an insensitive creep and again I apologize to everyone and anyone who was affected by this. I respect and commend the women who have come forward. Their breaking silence has compelled me to seek a more intense course of self-reflection, and personal development. I make no excuses for my behavior, I only want everyone to be ok. Words cannot convey how truly sorry I am.’
Despite Matt’s attorneys’ legal analysis of the allegations, Matt has insisted that nothing be said that blames or casts aspersions upon his accusers. Much of what has been written and talked about is false and defamatory. Nonetheless, Matthew accepts responsibility for his less than exemplary behavior. Matt realizes that in his eagerness for physical contact and gratification, he has been far from sensitive in his pursuit of women. However, Matt’s attorneys insist that it should be known that for each of the instances described in the media and online, there are two sides to these stories.
Regarding Real Estate, the band required Matt to sign a ‘leaving agreement’ in February 2016 that prohibits both him and the band members from making any negative or derogatory statements about the other, or that may negatively affect the other’s reputation and career. In violating the terms of the agreement, Real Estate band members were not ‘protecting the victims,’ they were instead protecting themselves by sidestepping the controversy to protect the band’s commercial viability.”
