SWMRS reply to Joey Armstrong sexual misconduct allegations

SWMRS have issued a press release concerning the accusations of sexual misconduct levied in opposition to their former drummer Joey Armstrong.

In a press release shared on Instagram in July 2020, Lydia Evening – singer of LA band The Regrettes – detailed her experiences with Armstrong (son of Inexperienced Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong) throughout a one-year relationship that started in mid-2017.

Evening mentioned within the message that the connection started when she was 16, and ended “proper earlier than my 18th birthday”. Armstrong was 22-years-old throughout that interval.

“Each time we took a step sexually it was as a result of he needed to and made it clear by both placing my hand on his crotch, shaming me for saying I wasn’t comfy, gaslighting me or ignoring me after I didn’t my consent,” a part of Evening’s put up learn.

She defined that she’d taken the choice to make the claims publicly after SWMRS “launched an unbelievably hypocritical assertion on social media”, including: “This band’s delusional positioning of themselves as woke feminists is just not solely triggering for me as a sufferer, however is full bullshit and must be known as out.”

Elsewhere in Evening’s assertion, she wrote that it has taken her “years to lastly perceive that I'm a sufferer of abuse”. She additionally accused Armstrong of utilizing his “place of energy” as a musician of a headline tour band with which to exert his management. “That skilled energy dynamic had made its manner into all elements of our relationship,” she mentioned.

Evening added that she spoke to Armstrong earlier than sharing the assertion on-line whereby he “appeared very empathetic” however that when she obtained a handwritten word written by him and delivered by his bandmate, Cole Becker, Armstrong “didn’t deal with any of the abuse, my age, his place of energy, or something sexual in any respect” inside the letter.

Later, Armstrong responded to the claims in his personal assertion that he shared on SWMRS’ official Instagram account.

“Whereas I don’t agree with among the issues she mentioned about me, it’s vital that she be allowed to say them and that she be supported for talking out. I respect her immensely and absolutely settle for that I failed her as a associate,” it learn.

“I used to be egocentric and I didn’t deal with her the way in which she deserves to have been handled each throughout our relationship and within the two years since we broke up.”

Armstrong added: “I've apologised to her privately and I hope she will forgive me, if and when she is prepared to take action. I personal my errors and can work laborious to regain the belief that I misplaced.”

SWMRS’ Cole Becker and Max Becker have now posted a video message through which they learn out “an open letter to our followers”. Cole confirmed that the pair are “going to maintain the band going”, and confirmed that each Armstrong and Seb Mueller had departed.

“To begin with, sorry this has taken so lengthy,” Cole started. “It’s simply been laborious to seek out the proper phrases to say. The final time we had been actually in contact is over two years in the past. The world round you and me had shut down.”

The frontman went on to speak about his bandmate and brother’s 2019 automobile crash and subsequent interval of restoration. “It’s in opposition to that backdrop that my life modified as soon as once more,” he continued.

“In July 2020, my buddy and the drummer of SWMRS, Joey Armstrong, was accused of emotional abuse and sexual coercion by someone that he had dated years earlier than. They weren't the identical age after they dated; he was 22, she was 17. However nonetheless, the accusations got here as a shock to me.

“Lydia was someone who we thought-about a buddy. Once I first heard that she was going to name Joey out, I instantly known as her. I keep in mind that Joey and her had met up months earlier than to debate their relationship after the actual fact, and I believed that it had gone effectively. So I needed to determine what had modified.”

Cole continued: “We talked twice and it was going effectively till she made mild of my brother’s automobile wreck, and recommended that we may put up about The Regrettes on our Instagram story to forestall her from going public together with her accusations. At which level I needed to step away from the scenario.

“When she revealed her assertion, I instantly noticed that sure particulars had been embellished to to make it seem worse than it was. I used to be there. I keep in mind their temporary relationship. I keep in mind when he spent Mom’s Day together with her household.”

The singer then disputed Evening’s declare that Armstrong had pressured her to maintain their relationship a secret. Everybody concerned in each of their lives knew about it,” he mentioned.

“I used to be additionally confused as a result of they by no means had intercourse, and but many individuals started to seek advice from him as a rapist. And to us as rape apologists.”

He added: “There was no accusation of sexual assault, and but the assertion was written to make it seem that Joey was a sexual predator. Perhaps he wasn’t an excellent boyfriend, however he isn't a sexual predator. Perhaps they shouldn’t have dated, however they did.”

Later, Cole mentioned it “felt improper” to become involved with the scenario: “In the end, it isn’t my story to inform and I actually didn’t wanna discredit her story. However the discrepancies had been too obtrusive for me to take her aspect over his.

“I wasn’t going to sentence my buddy. As a result of we refused to sentence him, we received cancelled. We began getting loss of life threats. Non-public details about our lives was being handed round casually by individuals who felt betrayed by us. Folks had been discovering each inventive solution to inform us that we sucked they usually hated us.”

Cole continued: “For those who had been one among these folks, I get it. You had believed that we stood for one thing, and but right here we had been seemingly contradicting ourselves by standing by our buddy amid these allegations. Those who I had thought-about buddies started posting statements condemning our band.

“I recalled in horror how I had participated on this frenzy a number of occasions earlier than from the opposite aspect. I believed that I had been utilizing our platform for an excellent factor. However in the long run, I used to be taking part in a tradition that rewards merciless behaviour within the identify of justice. And I solely realized this due to how merciless folks had been being to us. We had been being media flogged.”

As for the way forward for the band, Cole mentioned: “SWMRS is just not breaking apart, however a chapter of our lives has emphatically closed. Joey and Seb have each stepped away from the band to develop their private lives. Max and I are going to maintain the band going.

“After every part we’ve been by, it feels silly to give up. He has labored relentlessly on his restoration for the reason that accident with this sole intention of having the ability to play rock music on a stage once more. Our band means lots to us, and I believe it means lots to plenty of you as effectively.”

Cole then defined that he’d been “scared to say something” as he was conscious that his ideas on the scenario had been “controversial”.

“It doesn’t match neatly into the cultural binary of fine versus unhealthy. And I used to be scared as a result of I don’t need to struggle anybody – that’s the very last thing I need to do. However as this continues to intervene with our skill to do our job, I've no different selection. The time has come for us to set the file straight.”

Anticipating SWMRS’ followers response to the assertion, Cole mentioned: “A few of you'll hear this and it gained’t be sufficient. If that’s the case, you don’t should take heed to our music. I’m solely making an attempt to inform you the reality. I’ve not all the time accomplished the proper factor.

“However anybody who actually is aware of me is aware of that I all the time attempt to deal with folks with respect, and to work from a spot of affection. Regardless of how this letter finds you, we’re sending you're keen on, respect and gratitude. It’s all the time been an honour to share our music with you.”

You possibly can watch the assertion in full within the video above. NME has contacted Lydia Evening’s representatives for remark.