Hayley Williams Speaks Out About Sexual Assault In The Music Industry
By Eliot Hill
July 21, 2020
Trigger warning: sensitive content/mentions of sexual abuse & assault
On Monday (July 20), Hayley Williams penned a lengthy note on Instagram and Twitter discussing sexual assault and abuse in the music industry.
Her post came in response to her friends and peers stepping forward to tell their own stories about abuse within the music industry.
While she didn't specifically call out abusers by name, her post does come amid The Regrettes' Lydia Night telling her story about allegedly being groomed, coerced, and sexually abused by SWMRS' drummer Joey Armstrong (son of Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong).
“Have been reading a lot of statements from friends and peers in the music scene who have all experienced sexual and other kinds of abuse at the hands of dudes in bands or other parts of our industry,” Williams started her post. “It makes my stomach hurt and my eyes turn red… Frontwomxn are vulnerable and feel shame just the same as any young person going about any other lifepath. And the dudes in the bands? Well, they are most definitely vulnerable too.”
Williams also shared that she has “come through my career mostly unscathed” by abuse or assault. “I do have my own stories and perspectives on relationships involving improper power-imbalance, narcissism, and just being a young female in the early to mid-2000's 'emo scene,'” she wrote. “I am a rare one to not have any actual horror stories.”
Later in her note, the Paramore singer urges her fans and peers to “recognize sexism and misogyny — even in the most diluted forms — in our music scenes” and to “call out improper behavior and hold each other to a higher standard of respect and empathy.”
She also vows to continue protecting “womxn and young folx in the music scene.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or assault, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline 24 hours a day at 1-800-656-4673.
Photo: Getty Images