After allegations of sexual assault began circulating widely on Twitter and Facebook earlier this week, queer punk duo PWR BTTM released a statement on the matter, setting up an email account where victims of abuse could communicate with a moderator about their experiences.
Since then, Kitty Cordero-Kolin, the person who first posted about their knowledge of abuse by one of the duo’s members, Ben Hopkins, spoke with Jezebel about the situation, noting that they had also witness Hopkins kiss someone without consent. A victim came forward anonymously to detail experiences of assault to Jezebel as well.
The band’s manager Jeanette Wall also told Jezebel that she had no prior knowledge of these allegations, and this afternoon PWR BTTM’s management company, Salty Management, issued a tweet stating they are dropping the band from their roster and expressing support for victims:
https://twitter.com/SaltyArtistMGMT/status/863089494219554816
“Management will no longer be working with the band,” they wrote in the statement. “We do not take these kind of allegations lightly and our thoughts are with victims and survivors of abuse who have been affected by this. If you need someone to talk to, these organizations can provide information and support:
National Sexual Assault Hotline — (800) 656-4673
The Trevor Project — (866) 488-7386
LGBT National Help Center — (888) 843-4564
National Coalition Of Anti-Violence Programs — (212) 714-1141”
The band was dropped from multiple festival lineups, including Hopscotch Fest and Bled Fest. A band formerly slated to open for them on tour, T-Rexasty came forward saying they had prior knowledge of the abuse allegations, but opted not to cancel the tour until it became public knowledge. Multi-instrumentalist Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, Tancred, iji, Ratboys, have all also canceled scheduled appearance with the band, and touring band members Cameron West also left the band, claiming no prior knowledge of the claims.
