Win Butler Photo: Michael Loccisano (Getty Images)
Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple people, with Pitchfork’s lengthy report on the allegations saying the accusers had “sexual interactions with Butler that they deemed inappropriate given the age difference, the dynamic of power and context in which they occurred.” Three women told Pitchfork that they had “interactions with Butler” when they were between the ages of 18 and 23 and when he was “between 36 and 39,” and a fourth person — who is gender fluid and uses the pronouns they/they — said Butler “sexually assaulted them twice” in 2015, when he was 34.
Pitchfork notes that it “reviewed screenshots of text messages and Instagram messages” related to the allegations and that it “interviewed friends and family members who said they remembered being told about the alleged incidents.” The story includes accounts from all four accusers, none of whom apparently knew each other prior to any of this, but all of their stories include being Arcade Fire fans who met and befriended Butler in some way before their relationship with him becoming sexual — which, in a statement he gave to Pitchfork — he did not deny.
The stories then diverge, with most of the accusers saying Butler made unwanted advances and Butler saying everything between him and those accusers was consensual. He even notes in his statement that he ended his relationship with one of the women after she told him that sleeping with him was “hard on her mentally,” and after that he “committed to never sleeping with anyone again , who I basically knew so little about.” (He also says he “felt a little weird” after finding out she had an Arcade Fire tattoo).
Butler admitted in a lengthy statement to Pitchfork that he had “consensual relationships” with people outside of his marriage to Régine Chassagne (who is also in Arcade Fire with him), but he insisted in his statement that “every one of those interactions were mutual and always between consenting adults.” He adds that it is “deeply revisionist and frankly wrong for anyone to suggest otherwise.” He also apologized in his statement, saying, “I am very sorry for anyone I have hurt with my behavior” and “I never want to be involved in causing pain to anyone else.” He also notes that during the time period covered by these allegations, he “started drinking” to cope with the “worst depression of his life” and that he had “long struggled with mental health issues and the specters of child abuse. “
Pitchfork says that at least one of the accusers (all of their accounts are presented under pseudonyms) found Butler’s statement “disappointing” because he apologized and “challenged their recollection point by point. That accuser, who goes by Lilly in the report, also said that if Butler “can relax for a moment and realize what he’s done enough to know that he needs to change his behavior,” then “maybe that will be enough to protect other people going forward.”
Butler’s full statement to Pitchfork is below, as is Chassagne’s full statement, in which she says she “watched him suffer tremendous pain” and stood by him because “he’s a good guy who cares out of this world, our band, his fans, friends and our family.” She also says that he “never has and would never touch a woman without her consent” and that “he lost his way and found his way back.”
Statement from Win Butler:
I love Régine with all my heart. We have been together for twenty years, she is my partner in music and in life, my soul mate and I am happy and grateful to have her by my side. But sometimes it was hard for me to balance being the father, husband and bandmate that I want to be. Today I want to clear the air about my life, the bad judgment and mistakes I’ve made.
I have had consensual affairs outside of my marriage.
There is no easy way to say this and the hardest thing I have ever done is share this with my son. Most of these relationships were short-lived and my wife is aware that our marriage in the past was more unconventional than some. I’ve reached out to people in person, at concerts and through social media and shared messages I’m not proud of. Most importantly, each of these interactions was mutual and always between consenting adults. It is profoundly revisionist and frankly wrong for anyone to suggest otherwise.
I have never touched a woman against her will and any suggestion I have is simply false. I categorically deny any suggestion that I assaulted a woman or demanded sexual favors. This has simply and unequivocally never happened.
Although all of these relationships were consensual, I am very sorry for anyone I have hurt with my behavior. Life is full of tremendous pain and mistakes, and I never want to be a part of causing someone else’s pain.
I have long struggled with mental health issues and the ghosts of childhood abuse. In my 30s, I started drinking while dealing with the worst depression of my life after our family suffered a miscarriage. None of this is meant to excuse my behavior, but I want to give some context and share what was going on in my life at the time. I no longer recognized myself or the person I had become. Regine waited patiently, watching me suffer, and tried to help me as much as she could. I know it must have been so hard for her to watch the person she loved so lost.
I worked hard on myself – not out of fear or shame, but because I am a human being who wants to improve despite my flaws and damage. I’ve spent the last few years since Covid hit trying to save that part of my soul. I put considerable time and energy into therapy and treatment, including going to AA. I am now more aware of how my public persona can distort relationships, even if the situation seems friendly and positive to me. I am very grateful to Régine, my family, my dear friends and my therapist, who helped me come back from the abyss that I was sometimes sure would swallow me up. The bond I share with my bandmates and the incredibly deep connection I’ve made with the audience through sharing music has literally saved my life.
As I look to the future, I continue to learn from my mistakes and work hard to become a better person, someone my son can be proud of. I say to all my friends, family, anyone I’ve hurt, and the people who love my music and are shocked and disappointed by this report: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused – I’m sorry I wasn’t more aware and attuned to the effect I have on people – I screwed up and while it’s no excuse I’ll continue to look forward and heal what may be healed and to learn from past experiences. I can do better and I will do better.
Statement by Régine Chassagne:
Win is my soulmate, my songwriting partner, my husband, the father of my beautiful boy. He has been my partner in life and music for 20 years. And despite all the love in our lives, I also watched him suffer tremendous pain. I supported him because I know he is a good person who cares about this world, our band, his fans, friends and our family. I’ve known Wynn since before we were “famous” when we were just college students. I know what’s in his heart and I know he never has and never would touch a woman without her consent and I’m sure he never has. He has lost his way and found his way back. I love him and I love the life we created together.
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