In a statement after his dismissal from Megadeth on sexual misconduct allegations, David Ellefson says that he is a victim of revenge porn.
In his first statement since his dismissal from Megadeth on sexual misconduct allegations, David Ellefson has said that he is a victim of revenge porn.
In the statement, issued to Rolling Stone, Ellefson specifies that the recording of his exchange with a young woman was made without his knowledge, and that he will be looking to prosecute to the full extent of the law.
“Recently, a very private video was illegally posted on the internet and false allegations were made against me,” he told Rolling Stone. “The actions in the video were between two consenting adults and were recorded without my knowledge. I am working with Scottsdale Police Department in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted this video.
“Also, my lawyers are preparing a defamation lawsuit to be filed against this person. This person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I am taking this time to be with my family. I wish my bandmates the best with their upcoming tour.”
Earlier this month, exchanges of a sexually explicit nature between Ellefson — who is married — and a young woman were leaked online, leading to accusations of Ellefson grooming the woman.
Ellefson and the woman in question both denied the accusations in a post on Instagram, with the bassist saying: “While certainly embarrassing, I want to address it as openly and honestly as possible. As much as it’s not something I’m proud of, these were private, adult interactions that were taken out of context and manipulated to inflict maximum damage to my reputation, my career and family.”
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Shortly after, Megadeth announced that they had parted ways with Ellefson.
“While we do not know every detail of what occurred, with an already strained relationship, what has already been revealed now is enough to make working together impossible moving forward. We look forward to seeing our fans on the road this summer, and we cannot wait to share our brand new music with the world. It is almost complete.” wrote Megadeth’s lead guitarist Dave Mustaine.
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