Expire, Stone's Zach Dear accused of sexual misconduct, releases statement
[Photo by: Kat Nijmeddin]
Stone vocalist and Expire guitarist Zach Dear has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. He released a statement explaining that Stone will be “taking a break from touring.”
“In the last few days there have been some stories involving me circling around the internet. Most saying that I hurt people in different ways. While on tour I was shamefully promiscuous. It’s not something I’m proud of but it is something I’ve been honest about. I lived by the rule that every intimate encounter was over when a woman said ‘no,'” he writes.
“In every intimate situation I’ve been in, my understanding at the time through body language, being kissed back, etc., was that everything was consensual.”
Over the past few days, multiple allegations have arisen against Dear. “I really want to emphasize on the severity of Zach Dear’s position of power in the hardcore scene and how this would have influenced any women into choosing to NOT speak out on their experiences,” one of the victims writes, according to her post on a Tumblr page detailing accustations against Dear.
“I wasn’t informed as I now am to the extent of how to empathize and support victims of sexual assault and rape, so I didn’t let myself fully understand the severity of the feelings of violation.”
Allegations against Dear appear on a Tumblr page here.
Read Dear’s statement in full below:
In the last few days there have been some stories involving me circling around the internet. Most saying that I hurt people in different ways. While on tour I was shamefully promiscuous. It’s not something I’m proud of but it is something I’ve been honest about. I lived by the rule that every intimate encounter was over when a woman said “no.” In every intimate situation I’ve been in, my understanding at the time through body language, being kissed back, etc., was that everything was consensual. I am not the kind of guy who would intentionally harm anyone and – given the chance – I would apologize to anyone who felt I misinterpreted their signals or hurt them. That was far from my intention. I think it’s important for women to raise issues like this. No question. It gives everyone the opportunity to reflect and deal with them honestly which is what I’ll be doing while we take a break from touring.
— Zach Dear (@zachdear) January 29, 2018
Stone were set to tour with Knocked Loose, Terror and Jesus Piece this spring. Though Dear explains that they will be taking a break from touring, no official statement has been released from Knocked Loose or Stone.
