PWR BTTM Dropped by Management, Festivals After Sexual Assault Allegations

Photo by Ebru Yildiz

New York punk outfit PWR BTTM has been dropped by its management following sexual assault allegations against the band's Ben Hopkins.

Salty Artist Management said in a statement on Friday it "will no longer be working with the band," adding: "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."

On Wednesday, a person claiming to have "personally seen" Hopkins engage in unwanted sexual acts posted on social media, alleging the musician had "[initiated] inappropriate sexual contact with people despite several ‘nos’ and without warning or consent."

In response, the band said: "Ben has not been contacted by any survivor(s) of abuse. These allegations are shocking to us and we take them very seriously. Further, the alleged behavior is not representative of who Ben is and the manner in which they try to conduct themselves."

Two touring members of the band as well as a number of opening acts have also dropped out from the band's upcoming tour, which is support of their new album Pageant, released Friday on new label Polyvinyl. The label is reportedly offering refunds to those who request one.

Michigan festival Bled Fest and Raleigh's Hopscotch Music Festival have also confirmed this afternoon they has removed PWR BTTM from its lineup. "It is absolutely necessary to believe and support survivors of abuse, and to take steps toward holding abusers accountable," Hopscotch organizers said in a statement.

While the future of PWR BTTM's tour wasn't immediately clear, the band's album release show tonight in New York has been canceled.

Update: A woman wishing to remain anonymous has come forward, claiming Hopkins "made sexually aggressive advances and started having sex with her without permission while also refusing to wear protection,” according to Jezebel, which notes Hopkins allegedly made another attempt the same night and once more a month later.

The woman, identified only by the pseudonym "Jen," further disputed the band's claims of being unaware of the allegations, adding that PWR BTTM member Liv Bruce actually contacted her earlier this year and discussed the accusations.