If you want to catch up with the previous post, make sure to read the links below:
Because of COVID-19 most live music venues are closed, and the Indie community has taken a strong hit. But recently another type of affliction is threatening the community we adore even more. I am deeply concerned on seeing how this domino effect of fake allegations is already having heavy disturbances on the Indie community. It's been a very tough year for the music industry already to stand with a divided heart. We must support our local bands and fight for justice to happen accordingly. Real victims of sexual assault and rape deserve better. I see this trend of allegations popping up on Twitter from several bands, showing no evidence, where most of them fall on the end of slandering. The real problem originates from individuals attempting to make a few dollars and ride on the train of fame crashing bands to the ground( The issue here is that bands are also pulling on the trigger too soon, issuing unjustified claims to gain more popularity, posing as fake victims and martyrs. Among this wave of hypocrisy, the real victims get lost, and the truth is hard to be made. I decided to make a case study of all the allegations I could find the last days for some of our beloved Indie bands.
Case Study 1: exposing_the_buttertones
The instagram account exposing_the_buttertones_ has been deleted, but not before they tarnished the image of the Buttertones. They manipulated a young audience and profited from sexual assault and rape victims, motivating other bands and people to start lashing against the Indie community. To read more about it, see our previous reddit post.
Case Study 2: MuStyBoYz
@MuStyBoYz made a Twitter post slandering the actions of the Buttertones' manager. They post a picture that literally says NOTHING, see below. Not sure what they are expecting to achieve only to get more fame?
Case Study 3: Aquadolls
Melissa Brooks of the Aquadolls is another example of extreme slandering. Melissa's twitter is actively targeting bands and labeling boy bands as the enemy. I saw the exact pattern repeated with the exposing_the_buttertones_ account. They make an allegation on a band and their group of followers start submitting a series of un-based claims. Many of these claims fall very far from real sexual assault and most of them have no legal foundation on a court of law. I showed in my original Reddit post, how exactly more than 17 submissions out of the 21 submissions that I reviewed in exposing_the_buttertones_ were stretched accusations and all the others were very incongruent and unjustified.
From tweets made by Melissa Brooks, in just a week, I have seen an influx of biased and unjustified allegations targeting boy bands, promoting LGBTQ+female bands. There is no issue in promoting LGBTQ+female bands, these bands have great talent and great music, but these bands can be promoted not at the expense of slandering other bands.
On one of Melissa's posts, she offers zero evidence yet she did not hesitate to promote bands at the expense of others. It is one thing to truly seek to promote the LGBTQ community and female bands, empowering those who promote them, and another to discredit other bands and people in order to get "victim" recognition. Promoting victim awareness and supporting victims by following the right process under the law should be a priority over slandering and self-promotion. Utilizing the situation to promote your own agenda is selfish; it is evil.
Furthermore, her story regarding Richard from the Buttertones has no foundation for sexual assault or rape. In her statement she claimed it was all consensual. Her main problem was that the encounter was "rough" or that it wasn't what she was looking for. This does not mean she is entitled to slander on the band. Brooks started making all sort of claims as she started following the exposing_the_butterons_ Instagram account. This proves how Melissa Brooks is supporting baseless allegations with a potential personal agenda rather than with the intentions of helping victims. Unfortunately, this is where misinformation starts to distort the meaning of sexual assault and rape. Below an image of how exposing_the_buttertones was being promoted in Brook's twitter.
Case Study 4: Copycat Allegations
Another copycat of the exposing_the_buttertones, a twitter account with the name of @bubblegumsplash goes away with compiling absurd allegations from other bands, such as the Growlers, and many others without zero proof or enough context. Victims should be heard and their stories broadcasted, but they have to make sure that their allegations do not lose sight of the real motives. There has to be concrete evidence and slandering is only motivated by malicious intent. Nowadays, it just takes a few followers and a bad written statement with no context to create smoke and fire.
Case Study 5: @Plastictorian
A previous ex-girlfriend from a Buttertones member, is readily chiming in the train of slandering. Seems she was involved in an actual statutory rape case, but she places herself as the victim and supporter of allegations against them. I cannot say if this information is factual, but the pattern of fake allegations continues to repeat everywhere I look at.
I might be repeating myself a little bit but I want to really imprint this message in all my readers' minds:
My biggest motivation to write this blog, is to protect real survivors and also the indie community. The indie community is a talented group of artists that are trying to make it into the big leagues. Not everyone has the same opportunities. These are people who risk it all for a chance to make great music. Imagine creating a band from scratch, practicing everyday, trying to get a label and people to believe in you, for a moment to be all gone from defamations that started with a bad hookup or another band greedily seeking fame. Accusations like these, not only aim to destroy the band but the Indie community as a whole. That is not to say that there are members in the community that are committing crimes and should be held accountable, it just has to be done properly.
It's up to YOU, it's up to US, to stand against the CANCEL culture. Slandering and defamation is a cheap way to gain attention and the worst case to serve justice. We must seek the authorities and council of our institutions to bring transgressions to the light. We cannot appoint scapegoats and start witch-hunts because of meaningless and selfish motives. If you are a victim, make your voice heard, but not by promoting the agendas of others or your own. Bring back peace to you and other victims.
Count of Monte Cristo
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