A fifth person has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler.
The woman, going by the pseudonym Sabina, tells Pitchfork that she was involved in an “ongoing abusive relationship” with Butler between 2015 and 2018.
“Emotionally abusive, manipulative, toxic, and using his power dynamic to exploit my body at times that were convenient for him,” Sabina says.
Sabina says she met Butler in 2015 when she was 22 and he was 35. The relationship became sexual later in 2015, which she describes as “aggressive” and “ultimately dehumanizing.”
“I felt like I just had to do what he said,” Sabina says. “I was not really comfortable with some of the things he was asking me to do, but doing them anyway.”
In 2017, Butler sent Sabina an unsolicited sexually graphic photo of himself, which she describes as “really, really disrespectful and scary and gross.”
“It felt like that specific encounter was crossing a line that he shouldn’t have crossed and it was shocking,” Sabina says.
Pitchfork previously reported in August on four other people who accused Butler of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault in one case. In a statement to Pitchfork, Butler maintained that his encounters with all four accusers were “mutual and always between consenting adults.”
A rep for Arcade Fire did not respond to Pitchfork’s request for comment regarding this new allegation.
Despite the allegations, Arcade Fire has continued touring behind the band’s new album, WE, which is nominated for a 2023 Grammy, though opening artists Beck and Feist dropped off their respective legs during the worldwide trek.
If you are affected by abuse and needing support, or know someone who is, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). You can also chat online at thehotline.org or online.rainn.org, respectively.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.