Sydney pop-punk band With Confidence has announced it is “taking a step back from touring” after a second band member was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor.
We are taking a step back from touring while we process and think on recent developments.
— With Confidence (@withconfidence_) November 16, 2017
Heavy music festival UNIFY says that in response to the allegations, the band has also been removed from the event’s 2018 line-up.
Lead singer and bassist Jayden Seeley has been accused of soliciting nude images from a fan when she was 15, days after guitarist Luke ‘Rockets’ Thomas was ejected from the band for alleged sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old.
In a statement made originally made on Twitter and republished by Music Feeds, user @alekskczk – identified only as ‘Alex’ – states “when I was 15 I was first approached by Jayden Seeley who at the time was 21, and pressured into sending him nude photos.”
The allegations against Seeley include the claim “Jayden was well aware of my age when he was trying to solicit these pictures from me as he would always ask if I was ‘sneaking’ into his 18+ shows.”
Seeley has issued his own response to the recent allegation, disputing several elements of the account. He claims she “approached me multiple times with sexual photos on snapchat,” and that he “did not know her age and believed her to be older.”
While not outright denying the core of the allegations made against him, Seeley said “i honestly did not understand that in participating in these sparse snapchat exchanges i was abusing the small power i had.”
Seeley said “i apologise to everyone this has affected and hope this has not affected alex to the extent she has described.”
— Jayden Seeley (@jaydenseeley_) November 15, 2017
With Confidence drummer Josh Brozzesi tweeted that both he and guitarist Inigo Del Carmen were aware of the allegation made against Seeley, and that they were treating it with “utmost seriousness.”
We have been made aware of an allegation against Jayden. It’s very late here but Ini and I are looking into this and are treating this with the utmost seriousness.
— josh brozzesi (@joshwithcon) November 15, 2017
Thomas was fired from the band on Tuesday, following allegations that he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a Year 9 student when he was 23.
Piper Vidler, a friend of the alleged victim, said “it got to a point where my friend was so sure that he’d attempt something inappropriate with her in person next time they saw each other, that we sold the tickets we had for their next show and did not end up going.”
Thomas has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Heavy music festival UNIFY says that in response to the allegations made against members of With Confidence, they have also been removed from the event’s 2018 line-up.
With Confidence released their debut album Better Weather last year. The band has played the Warped Tour circuit, in addition to supporting acts like The Wonder Years, Motion City Soundtrack, and 5 Seconds Of Summer.
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