Content warning: The following article discusses sexual assault and rape.
Alex Fitzpatrick, the founder of UK punk label Holy Roar Records has been accused by multiple people of rape and sexual abuse this week.
Earlier this week, two women came forward on Instagram to share their alleged experiences of non-consensual sex abuse by Fitzpatrick. You can read both statements in full below.
In one statement, it’s alleged Fitzpatrick raped one of the women in 2015 after a consensual sexual interaction. “I refused and said no. My clear lack of consent was ignored, and he had sex with me anyway,” the statement reads.
In the second statement, it is claimed that Fitzpatrick raped a woman after he invited her to his house. “We began being intimate with one another. Things quickly became aggressive and I repeatedly told him no and to stop which he did not.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE1_5kdAklV/
Today, in a statement issued via the Holy Roar Twitter account, three employees at the label have announced they will be resigning immediately.
“We have spent the last 24 hours in horror of the allegations that have been made against Alex Fitzpatrick, the owner of Holy Roar. The extremely serious allegations are against everything that myself, Sam, Wil and our bands – stand for. We, the label’s employees, are resigning from working with Holy Roar effective immediately.”
“We are sorry for the long silence. It was a lot for us to process with our bands and personally and we found out the same time as the public.”
The label’s employees concluded the statement by saying Fitzpatrick will be making his own statement in time.
https://twitter.com/holyroarrecords/status/1303440924555595776
Since Fitzpatrick started Holy Roar back in 2006, the label has released music by the likes of Gallows, Make Do and Mend, Svalbard, This Is Hell, Touche Amore, Brutality Will Prevail, Dananananakroyd and more.
Yesterday, one of the label’s most popular acts, mathcore outfit Rolo Tomassi, issued a brief statement in which they say that in light of the allegations against Fitzpatrick, the band have “ended [their] relationship with him and Holy Roar as a label, effectively immediately.”
The band had previously been one of the longest-running artists on the Holy Roar roster, and in 2018 released their fifth studio album Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It through the label.
“We have zero tolerance for abusive behaviour and stand in solidarity with those that have come forward.”
See Rolo Tomassi’s statement – along with other statements from bands who’ve released music via Holy Roar – below.
A statement: pic.twitter.com/cjpq8JI32c
— Rolo Tomassi (@rolotomassiband) September 8, 2020
Hi friends. Please read this. pic.twitter.com/vSoBe1wmvr
— ✨ITHACA✨ (@ITHACABAND) September 7, 2020
— Svalbard (@Svalbardband) September 8, 2020
Palm Reader are aware of the recent allegations against Alex Fitzpatrick. Abusive behaviour is not to be tolerated under any circumstances and is something we as a band and individuals take very seriously.
We are currently in conversation with our team on how to move forward.
— Palm Reader (@wearepalmreader) September 8, 2020
— Renounced (@Renouncedhc) September 8, 2020
If you need assistance, 1800 RESPECT – the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service — can be reached on 1800 737 732.
For help or information regarding mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
The views expressed by people and organisations quoted in this article are not the view of Music Feeds or its employees.
