Photo credit Dance Gavin Dance Facebook page
Recently, fans around the world are having feeling the sting from goings-ons in the scene. Just two days ago, Dance Gavin Dance released a statement regarding sexual misconduct allegations against their lead singer Tilian Pearson. It is noteworthy that Pearson posted screenshots and details of a conversation between him and his accuser(s) on Reddit, seemingly damning himself and admitting guilt. The statement from the band reads that Pearson will take an immediate hiatus.
Note: we will not post the conversation. It can be found via Reddit.com
Photo credit: Dance Gavin Dance Facebook page. And his is not the first to come out in the last year, not even in the last few months. Other allegations include Marylin Manson, Jack Barakat of All Time Low, and others. The saddening fact is, this isn't new. Men and women all over the world have could probably talk about an experience in which they were groped in a mosh pit inappropriately, offered a drink while underage, or spoken to in an ill-suited manner. The Warped Tour scene was notorious for countless reports of misconduct, abuse, and, dare we say, rape. That leaves behind a trail of questions: can we separate artist from behavior? Have we been blind to how people have been treated in the past? What can we do now to mend that bridge? These are not easy questions to answer. Obviously, some behaviors shouldn't be forgiven, and bands, promoters, managers and record label execs should be taking the right steps to ensure that anyone on their team is not behaving in an inappropriate manner. If they cannot, that individual should be removed. Such as the case with Dance Gavin Dance, having removed Pearson immediately. The next question, have we been blind, is tricky. In today's society, people have been encouraged to speak out more than ever before. Reddit threads, Facebook groups, and simply talking to friends have opened up the floodgates of deplorable behavior that we may not have been aware of in the past. However, it goes without saying that many have felt the need to keep quiet, or were perhaps even asked to do so, for wanting to save themselves some torment by fellow fans and band members alike. And the other piece to that is, frankly, getting the correct and complete information on an incident before it spreads like wild fire across the internet. Everyone deserves to have their day in court, and no matter who is at fault, everyone has a right to speak. The last question is seemingly simple, but it creates a stream of other questions directly after it. Allegations, court cases, and announcements like Dance Gavin Dance will never stop unless a few things happen more often: getting the facts, speaking up when one sees something inappropriate or questionable, and simply being careful and aware. Looking out for each other is the basis the scene was started to begin with; bands and fans alike have a responsibility to keep one another safe. Holding people accountable is an absolute must. We can all learn a little something from this endeavor.
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