Careers: June 10, 2020

UPDATE: On Wednesday (Oct. 14), Geordie Greep posted a statement to Instagram in response to a Paste magazine interview with a woman accusing the musician of sexual harassment. The woman, going by the pseudonym Laura, denied that she had any knowledge of the flyers outside Greep’s concert labeling him a “rapist” and instead detailed her alleged experience of waking up to him kissing her against her will and then pushing him off. In his Instagram statement, Greep acknowledges kissing her but says he didn’t realize she was asleep. Read Laura’s full account on Paste, and see Greep’s response below.

ORIGINAL (Oct. 10): Geordie Greep is responding to sexual misconduct allegations made against him.

During his show in Vancouver on Thursday (Oct. 8), the former Black Midi frontman addressed accusations of rape after an individual outside the Pearl venue distributed flyers to concertgoers accusing him of sexual assault.

The flyers read, “Geordie Greep A Rapist. You know what you did this morning Oct 8th. He thinks he can do what he wants. Let Him Know What Vancouver Thinks of Rapists.”

Greep took the stage about an hour later than scheduled and performed without his backing band, addressing the flyers distributed outside the venue.

“Essentially what happened last night, me and some of the band we went out to some bars, we went around, we met people, and it ended up in a situation where really late at a house party, I got the wrong end of the stick with someone who was there, and I made a move, and it didn’t come off,” Greep told the audience.

“I really quickly, of course, apologized, and it was a complete misunderstanding on my part. I felt extremely bad, I feel extremely sorry, and extremely upset about the whole situation. I would never rape a woman. I’m not a rapist. It’s not how that went down.”

Greep said he would perform the Vancouver concert solo because he “didn’t want to force them to still play a show in the light of that happening.” He also noted that proceeds from the show would be donated to an anti-violence organization in British Columbia.

“We were unsure what the response would be to all this, and I can only tell you that it’s okay if people want refunds, if they want to leave, it’s fine,” Greep continued. “I just wanted to be transparent with you about what happened. I’m very, very, very sorry. I made someone uncomfortable without meaning to. It’s not a good thing, it’s not good.”

Billboard has reached out to Greep’s representatives for further comment.

Following the allegations, Greep canceled several dates on his current North American tour, including shows in Boise, Idaho, on Friday (Oct. 9), and Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday (Oct. 10). He also canceled upcoming concerts scheduled in Boulder and Denver, Colorado.

The final two dates of Greep’s North American tour, scheduled for Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska, had not been canceled at press time.

Greep is also scheduled to embark on a European tour beginning Nov. 1 in the Netherlands, followed by shows in France, Spain and Portugal.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.