Women Accuse Win Butler: Allegations Against Arcade Fire Singer

Women blame Win Butler
Allegations against singers of Arcade Fire

28/08/2022, 10:08 PM

Win Butler has not always acted well in his past. The singer of the band Arcade Fire openly admits this. But now accusations of four people who have it all are coming out. The 42-year-old rejects the allegations – and has support from his wife.

Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler has been accused of sexual misconduct by four people, according to a report by Pitchfork. Three women report “inappropriate” encounters, while a fourth non-binary person claims Butler sexually assaulted her twice in 2015. The American musician, who founded the successful band Arcade Fire in 2001 with Canadian musician Régine Chassagne – now also his wife – has admitted the interactions. However, the 42-year-old said through a spokesperson that he was amicable.

The three women, all of whom were ardent fans of Arcade Fire, said they “considered their sexual acts with Butler inappropriate given the age difference, the power dynamics and the context in which they took place.” They say the interactions started when they were between 18 and 23 years old and took place during overlapping periods from 2016 to 2020 when he was between 36 and 39 years old.

The fourth person alleges Butler sexually assaulted her twice in 2015 when she was 21 and he was 34: once when they were driving a car together, and another after Butler allegedly showed up at her apartment despite her telling him. had sent by email. asked not to do this.

Pitchfork says it viewed screenshots of text and Instagram messages between the four people and Butler and interviewed friends and relatives who remember hearing about the alleged incidents. Butler, speaking of crisis manager Risa Heller, admitted to having sexual contacts with each of the four people, but also claimed they were consensual and not initiated by him.

“Today I want to clean up”

“I love Régine with all my heart,” his statement begins. And further: “We have been together for twenty years, she is my partner in music and in life, my soul mate and I am happy and grateful to have her by my side. But sometimes it was difficult to do the balancing act that To be the father, husband and bandmate I wanted to be. Today I want to be honest and talk about my life, my poor judgment and the mistakes I made. I’ve had consensual relationships outside of my marriage,” Butler says to.

“It’s not easy for me to say this and the hardest thing I’ve ever done is to share this with my son. Most of those relationships were short-lived and my wife knew that — our marriage was unconventional than others,” Butler continued. He reached out to people at concerts or through social media and wrote posts he wasn’t proud of. “Most importantly, all those interactions were mutual and always between consenting adults. It’s just wrong to say otherwise. I’ve never touched a woman against her will.” He vehemently rejects any accusation to the contrary.

And then he apologizes: “I say to all of you, my friends, my family, everyone I’ve hurt and the people who love my music and are shocked and disappointed by this message, I’m sorry.” He looks ahead and learns from the past. “I can do better and I will do better.”

Woman supports butler

In a written statement, Chassagne supported Butler’s opinion. “Win is my soul mate, my songwriting partner, my husband, the father of my beautiful boy. He has been my partner in life and music for 20 years,” the 46-year-old writes.

With all the love in her life, she also saw how much he suffered. “I stood behind him because I know he is a good person who cares about this world, our band, his fans, friends and family,” Chassagne continued. You’ve known him since you were a student. “I know what is in his heart and I know that he has never touched a woman without her permission and never would,” she defended her husband.

“He lost his way and found himself again. I love him and I love the life we ​​built together,” the singer explains. Win Butler and Régine Chassagne have been married since 2003 and have a son since 2013.