Win Butler Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire took the stage at Dublin's at 3Arena for their first show since allegations of frontman Win Butler's sexual misconduct surfaced.

[August 30, 2022] The allegations surfaced just days ahead of the kick-off to Arcade Fire’s world tour in support of their latest album, WE. “I have never touched a woman against her will, and any implication that I have is simply false. I vehemently deny any suggestion that I forced myself on a woman or demanded sexual favors. Instead, he thanked the crowd “from the bottom of my heart” for coming out. For his part, Butler kept the stage banter to a minimum and made no mention of the allegations levied against him.

Several radio stations have begun removing Arcade Fire's discography from their lineups following recent allegations of sexual misconduct made against the ...

Since the news of the allegations was reported, he says at least six stations that routinely play the band's music had dropped the songs by sometime Tuesday. We have not yet had a fulsome internal conversation about the permanence of this decision," said Ian March, program director at Indie88, a music station based in Toronto. Arcade Fire's world tour kicks off Tuesday in Dublin, with shows ending in North America in December in Montreal. The allegations reported by Pitchfork range from unsolicited sexual text messages and photos, to forceful touching. They have not been proven in court. CBC News was unable to independently verify these allegations.

TORONTO — Arcade Fire is being yanked from the airwaves at some Canadian radio stations amid sexual misconduct allegations against lead singer Win Butler.

Days after Arcade Fire's Win Butler was accused of sexual misconduct and assault, the indie-rock band's European tour kicked off Tuesday in Dublin.

Fans weren’t the only ones with Butler’s allegations in mind at Tuesday’s concert. A fourth accuser, who identifies as gender-fluid, alleged that Butler sexually assaulted them twice in 2015 when they were 21. While Butler led the chorus, a crowded arena of fans clapped and sang along. [will donate all proceeds](https://twitter.com/KevFreeburn/status/1564679284488372225) from her merchandise sales to [Women’s Aid Dublin](https://www.womensaid.ie/services/), according to [photos from the merch stand.](https://twitter.com/KevFreeburn/status/1564679284488372225) Women’s Aid Dublin is an organization that works to stop domestic abuse in Ireland. [report from Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/news/arcade-fires-win-butler-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-by-multiple-women-frontman-responds/), three women alleged that Butler’s misconduct occurred between 2016 and 2020 when they were between the ages of 18 and 23 and Butler was between 36 and 39. [“Arcade Fire came out to rapturous applause”](https://twitter.com/Morbegland/status/1564706605668745218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1564706605668745218%7Ctwgr%5Ece705b633b60ef45e8254cdabd8fb771005237b6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsequence.net%2F2022%2F08%2Farcade-fire-first-concert-sexual-misconduct-allegations%2F) when opening its set with “Wake Up.” Journalist Christine Bohan, who was also in attendance, noted that the “ [crowd immediately seems to be on their side.”](https://twitter.com/ChristineBohan/status/1564708228495286274)

Adesewa Awobadejo asks gig-goers at the 3Arena their views on stories about Arcade Fire's frontman.

What do you make of the allegations against Win Butler? Are you aware of the allegations against win Butler? It’s the first I’ve heard about it. I’m a big fan of their first couple of albums. I’m expecting to see quite a visual experience along with the music rather than just the band playing music on stage. What do you hope to see tonight? What are you looking forward to tonight? What was your initial reaction to the allegations? I’ve been a fan of them for a long time. I don’t know what goes on and doesn’t go on but that’s a shock to hear. I would hope they do everything possible to find out the truth and I hope they can to get to the bottom of it. How long have you been a fan?

The band begin a world tour in Dublin days after frontman Win Butler was accused of sexual misconduct.

"But I think those things need to be taken very seriously because the band has a very socially conscious network and following. It's the first I've heard about it," said one. He said he did not recognise the significance of the age gap at the time but could now see "how it could be overwhelming". "There was no booing or catcalling in the audience. Meanwhile, Toronto's Indie88 made "a quick decision over the weekend to pull the band's music", program director Ian March told After the gig, Butler allegedly touched and kissed them in a car, without consent.

Arcade Fire began their 2022 UK and Ireland headline tour last night, despite allegations of sexual misconduct against frontman Win Butler.

NME has reached out to her representatives’s for clarification and comment. The musician did, however, [commit to donating all proceeds earned from her merch sales last night to Women’s Aid Dublin](https://www.nme.com/news/music/feist-opens-for-arcade-fire-in-dublin-donates-merch-proceeds-to-womens-aid-3300994). Another tweet claimed there was “very little” on-stage chat from the singer overall. Felt like I was saying goodbye to them or something. I don’t know how the rest of the shows are going to go. I don’t know what else to say. [August 30, 2022] Another Twitter user said “the mood was tense” inside the venue. Later, it was claimed by multiple audience members that it appeared to be “business as usual” for the band. However, the first show in Dublin went ahead as planned yesterday evening. [August 31, 2022] The mood was tense.

On Saturday, music publication Pitchfork ran a story containing allegations of inappropriate sexual interactions against four people by the 42-year-old ...

The first incident of forceful touching happened when Butler allegedly stuck his hands down their pants without consent while they were riding in a car together, according to Pitchfork. On Saturday, music publication Pitchfork ran a story containing allegations of inappropriate sexual interactions against four people by the 42-year-old musician. "I'm sorry for the pain I caused — I'm sorry I wasn't more aware and tuned in to the effect I have on people."

The Canadian band made no mention of the allegations during their performance – and many fans vocally maintained their support for Butler.

“No offence to the male species but a man’s a man,” said one woman in her 30s. Taking to the stage to deafening cheers from a near capacity arena, Butler thanked the audience “from the bottom of my heart” for attending. They are one of the biggest bands in the world.” Others conceded unease but said they separated art from the artist. “Women are chasing him every day of the week. Butler’s longtime partner Régine Chassagne performs with the band and defended him to Pitchfork, saying she was “certain” he had never touched a woman without consent. She would read about the allegations after the show, she said. [Feist](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/28/fesit-the-high-of-falling-in-love-isnt-desirbale-for-me), made no mention of the allegations during her performance. He has denied the allegations, yet it left some fans with tickets to the first night of their European tour – and their first show since the allegations emerged on Saturday – with a dilemma: to go or not to go? The three women, and one gender-fluid person, accuse the singer of exploiting his fame and their fandom, including sending unwanted sexual messages, during incidents that occurred between 2015 and 2020, when Butler was between 34 and 39. I think once in I’ll be in the zone. She displayed a poster on her merchandise stall pledging to donate the proceeds from her sales to [Women’s Aid](https://www.womensaid.ie/), an Irish charity that helps victims of domestic abuse.

In the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct against Win Butler, frontman of Montreal band Arcade Fire, Quebec Liberal Party Leader Dominique Anglade is ...

Two major Canadian radio stations, CBC Music and Indie88, have decided to pull Arcade Fire's music from their rotations following the accusa...

Arcade Fire is being yanked from the airwaves at some Canadian radio stations amid sexual misconduct allegations against lead singer Win Butler.

Get all of the latest People news from NationalWorld. Providing fresh perspective online for news across the UK.