Feist Quits Arcade Fire Tour; Cites Win Butler Allegations as Reason

Singer-songwriter Feist announced Thursday she is dropping out as the opening act for Arcade Fire on the band's current tour.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Feist said she is leaving the tour because of allegations of sexual misconduct made against Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler. (In statements to Pitchfork, Butler has said the alleged sexual encounters were consensual.)

Feist wrote that the accusations have been "incredibly difficult for me and I can only imagine how much more difficult it's been for the people who came forward."

Last Saturday, Pitchfork published the accounts of four people who accused Butler of behaving inappropriately. All four accusers—three women and a gender-fluid person who uses they/them pronouns—were between the ages of 18 and 23 when the alleged misconduct would have occurred, and Butler would have been between 36 and 39. Their allegations range from unsolicited sexual texts to forceful touching and sexual assault.

Feist opened for Arcade Fire on the first two dates of the indie band's current tour, which kicked off Tuesday. Those two shows took place in Dublin. Fans noticed that Feist had seemingly acknowledged the accusations by donating all proceeds from her merchandise sales to an Irish organization dedicated to stopping domestic violence.

"I'm imperfect and I will navigate this decision imperfectly, but what I'm sure of is the best way to take care of my band and crew and my family is to distance myself from this tour, not this conversation," Feist said in her Thursday statement.

Feist's statement also detailed why she had decided to play the Dublin shows.

"To stay on tour would symbolize I was either defending or ignoring the harm caused by Win Butler and to leave would imply I was the judge and jury.... I was never here to stand for or with Arcade Fire—I was here to stand on my own two feet on a stage, a place I've grown to feel I belong and I've earned as my own," she wrote.

Feist added that she related to the alleged victims.

"We all have a story within a spectrum ranging from baseline toxic masculinity to pervasive misogyny to actually being physically, psychologically, emotionally or sexually assaulted," she said. "This situation touches each of our lives and speaks to us in a language unique to each of our processing."

How Feist felt while performing on Tuesday and Wednesday led her to her decision, she said. Playing her songs seemed different, and "hearing them through this lens was incongruous with what I've worked to clarify for myself through my whole career."

She continued, "I've always written songs to name my own subtle difficulties, aspire to my best self and claim responsibility when I need to. And I'm claiming my responsibility now and going home."

Meanwhile, Arcade Fire has experienced a backlash from fans. Many people who have bought tickets for its fall tour have called on the Canadian band to cancel the remaining dates so that refunds can be issued.

Newsweek reached out to Feist and Arcade Fire for comment.