Brand New frontman Jesse Lacey accused of grooming in new allegation
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(Credit: Alamy)
Brand New frontman Jesse Lacey is facing new allegations amid announcing a comeback tour, the first since his previous series of allegations of sexual misconduct.
On Friday—just a few days after announcing their new tour—a woman called Aiyana came forward alleging Lacey began grooming her in 2006 when she was 15. She said that Lacey had asked for her contact details after she had given him several gifts, after which they gained access to tours and frequently went on the tour bus.
Sharing her story on Medium, Aiyana said a shift happened at a show in Kansas when Lacey became “playful” and “teasing” and said she was “going to have to put up with a little teasing every now and then” if she wanted to be friends with him.
According to her recollections, Lacey would also make suggestive comments about wishing she wasn’t 15 years old, while the tour manager would sent her text messages that read, “Jesse and I were just talking about how we want to snuggle with you both on the tour bus.”
During one instance, Aiyana and Lacey were on the tour bus, Lacey teasing Aiyana about something when she jokingly asked why he hated her so much. He replied: “I don’t hate you, the truth is I’m in love with you, but you’re just not old enough for me to marry you yet.”
When their relationship eventually dissolved, Aiyana recalls it significantly impacting her mental health and personal life, leaving her feeling confused and frustrated and unable to process the details of their “friendship”. Several instances contributed to her feeling uncertain and unsettled, including one when he called her mother to ask them to keep their relationship a secret.
The band recently revealed their plans to embark on their first tour in eight years. Lacey was previously accused of sexual misconduct in 2017 by a woman who said Lacey “solicited nudes from me starting when I was 15 and he was 24.” After, Lacey apologised and confirmed the allegations were true.
“The actions of my past have caused pain and harm to a number of people, and I want to say that I am absolutely sorry,” Lacey wrote at the time. “I do not stand in defense of myself nor do I forgive myself. I was selfish, narcissistic, and insensitive in my past, and there are a number of people who have had to shoulder the burden of my failures.”
Afterwards, the band cancelled their tour dates and went on an indefinite hiatus. However, in light of the latest tour announcement, there has been a level of backlash about whether this is the right course of action, especially after the venues they plan to visit limited all comments on their own announcement posts.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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