Content Warning: This article discusses themes of abuse. If you or someone you know are affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
The Smith Street Band have shared an open letter addressing the allegations of emotional abuse surrounding frontman Will Wagner.
In February this year, screenshots were unearthed documenting an email conversation between Wagner and his former partner, Georgia McDonald of Camp Cope. The conversation led to allegations of emotional abuse towards Wagner and ultimately resulted in The Smith Street Band cancelling their scheduled Australian tour.
Following the aftermath of the screenshots leaking, Wagner released a statement addressing the allegations made against him. The statement saw Wagner apologise for his past actions, admitting, “I said some incredibly hurtful things that I should never have said and expressed myself in a way that I completely regret and I wholeheartedly apologise for.”
It delved into Wagner’s public struggles with mental health and resolved in him admitting that he was “trying to be a better person.”
Now, the band have released a lengthy open letter that has seen Wagner attempt to defend himself against the accusations brought against him and criticise cancel culture and “mob-stalking” mentality.
Read an excerpt of the statement below:
“When we left Poison City Records three and a bit years ago we did it on the advice of my psychologist and I was heartbroken. I explained that we were leaving because I’d been told I’d been in an emotionally abusive relationship and the best thing for me to do would be to put as much distance between myself and the person who subjected me to that as I could. It was a difficult private conversation about a difficult private situation, we wished each other all the best and we left.
“The band and I took deliberate and at times very difficult steps to put as much distance between me and my ex as possible because that’s what I needed. And while Georgia played a guitar she took from me, was on the label that I’d previously been synonymous with, worked at the pub we rehearsed at, and, in many other ways I felt took over my life, she also went around telling people I was the one harassing her.
“I retreated entirely. But I never said it was them or us. I’ve never felt the need or desire to talk about Georgia’s behaviour publicly (until now where I’m faced with no choice), because it’s a private situation, it was my decision to enter and stay in this relationship, I didn’t want to ruin anyone else’s life because of what I was going through and because I think all people are capable of doing really shitty things and also really great things. There are obviously really good reasons to call someone out but honestly, and as hard as the last few years have been, I never wanted to bring anyone down because they treated me bad. This soap opera that’s been created as if we are the only two people to ever break up is absurd. And while we’ve both also bought into that soap opera by writing music about it, that is the way that people like us cope with negative feelings. We write music about it. Do I regret writing a record about a difficult relationship? Absolutely not. One of the great things about doing anything creative is it’s an outlet for negative feelings. I’m not the first sad person who’s picked up a guitar and I’m not the only song writer who’s ever written about a break-up.”
Wagner then continued to accuse McDonald of leaking the screen-shots “like any other PR campaign.”
“They were literally hyped. There was palpable glee in the delivery of these accusations.”
You can read the full statement below.
https://www.facebook.com/thesmithstreetband/posts/3071832692857766?__tn__=K-R
