Image: Supplied + Ian Laidlaw + Supplied

Kira Puru, Alex The Astronaut & WAAX Were All Harassed/Assaulted At Their Gigs This Weekend

CONTENT WARNING: The following article discusses sexual assault

Concerts are supposed to be safe spaces for fans of all types to come together and revel in the fact that they’re seeing an artist absolutely smash a performance.

Concerts are not, however, supposed to be a place where drunk and belligerent men have the nerve to harass or assault the artist they’ve paid to see. Sadly, the latter happened to not one or two but three acts this weekend: Kira Puru, Alex The Astronaut and WAAX frontwoman Marie DeVita.

The latter took to Instagram first, so reveal that she was groped twice while performing a show at Newcastle’s Cambridge Hotel. Taking to the band’s official IG page, DeVita (aka Maz) said that while the venue is one of her favourites in the country, she feels completely disrespected and degraded.

“I couldn’t figure out who you were because you moved so quickly in a really large crowd of people,” Maz wrote.

“But I hope you’re glad to know that I fucking felt it and it was extremely degrading.”

“I don’t know who you are,” Maz continued later, “but you know who you are and I want you to know that your disgusting behaviour is not welcome in our music scene or anywhere really. It is totally disrespectful and plain fucked up. Musicians work really hard to make music and perform it. We deserve some fucking respect.”

Puru also took to Instagram to reveal that she was harassed by a punter while performing in Townsville. Stating that she had already had a panic attack prior to even hitting the stage, she was already fragile.

“When I stepped into the lights, everything was whirring n I felt pretty nervous that I might have a panic attack on stage,” Puru wrote.

“During the show, some loser from the crowd yelled out some shit about my ‘fat pussy’ from in the pit.”

“…It’s frustrating to not even be able to get through a 30 minute set without some gronk harassing me and commenting on my body,” Puru continued later.

“Fortunately I’m a fucking G and just called it out and dealt with it on stage but straight after the set I had a bit of an embarrassing meltdown/release triggered by that moment.”

“I think we can all just agree that this behaviour is inappropriate, disrespectful and entirely unwarranted. IT IS HARRASSMENT. Don’t bring your shitty, entitled attitude to any gig of mine or any show or public place for that matter….If you behave like a fucking tool, YOU WILL BE CALLED OUT AND KICKED OUT. If you are with or near a stupid fucking gronk, call their behaviour out and make them accountable. If you can’t see why this behaviour is an issue YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.”

Finally, Alex The Astronaut revealed she had an uncomfortable experience while performing in Adelaide, and said she was inspired to speak up by Maz doing so earlier today.

“I walked off stage to the merch desk and four boys asked for photos (which is fine),” Alex wrote on Instagram.

“One put his arm around me and whispered in my ear that he had a crush on me (two times) and asked if that was okay to say. When I said I’m gay so yes as long as he got that he said it again. I am small, he was very tall he kept his arm around me the whole time and I felt uncomfortable. His friend did the same thing and when I tried to leave got annoyed and when he asked to buy me a drink and when I said no thanks got cranky.”

Read all statements from Puru, Alex and Maz below.

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Hi there, I had a great weekend. I played my first all ages show in adelaide and at the drop fest in Torquay. Both were great fun and I met some great people. I just need to say one thing because I saw @waax_band post and thought there was something I should share. 99% of the people I met in Adelaide were awesome, I got to meet some great young kids who were excited about space and it warmed my heart. One group wasn’t so fun for me. I walked off stage to the merch desk and four boys asked for photos (which is fine). One put his arm around me and whispered in my ear that he had a crush on me (two times) and asked if that was okay to say. When I said I’m gay so yes as long as he got that he said it again. I am small, he was very tall he kept his arm around me the whole time and I felt uncomfortable. His friend did the same thing and when I tried to leave got annoyed and when he asked to buy me a drink and when I said no thanks got cranky. Now I know they were probably having fun, they were probably drinking, and they were probably just being nice. But I walked away feeling yuck and worried they’d come back. I wasn’t sure if they were going to get more cranky with me. I go to shows to sing for the people, I work hard and I want to meet people but that makes me want to cry. I feel guilty and not sure what I’m allowed to say back. If you come to a gig be like the 99% of people to not only artists but any staff. There’s a way to treat other people and that wasn’t it. When someone’s talking to you because it’s part of their job to and you take it too far that’s not okay. Whether you’re a boy or girl (unfortunately this has happened to me with girls too but the vast majority are boys) and you ignore anyone’s body language or continue to hit on someone that seems uncomfortable that’s not okay. Having said that, I want to make sure to say I did have a fun show I hope all the people in Adelaide had fun and I loved meeting all the nice people. The venue was beautiful, @saintjacquesmusic and @lucyzola were amazing supports, the lion arts centre is an awesome venue with great staff and I’ll be back for sure. Rant over have a good day everyone

A post shared by Alex The Astronaut (@alex.the.astronaut) on

 

View this post on Instagram

 

P S A

A post shared by WAAX (@waax_band) on

 

View this post on Instagram

 

From time to time, I suffer from crippling anxiety. Sadly it’s not at all unusual in this business. I’m currently addressing this without medication which can be taxing and yeilds varying results when I’m touring or under duress. The other day, a few hours before my show, I had a health scare which triggered a panic attack, leaving me pretty fragile and tender before having to perform at an otherwise stunning venue in Townsville. In the 18 hours or so I’d been in town, I had already been hollered at from cars 3 times. When I went on stage, I was on the verge of having another attack but decided to try and push through, hoping that the catharsis of performing would maybe help me out. When I stepped into the lights, everything was whirring n I felt pretty nervous that I might have a panic attack on stage. During the show, some loser from the crowd yelled out some shit about my “fat pussy” from in the pit. I was already having weird heart palps, my voice was shaky and my breathing short. Honestly, I don’t really give any fucks about idiotic men usually but when I’m at work and having a rough fkn day already, it’s frustrating to not even be able to get through a 30 minute set without some gronk harassing me and commenting on my body. Fortunately I’m a fucking G and just called it out and dealt with it on stage but straight after the set I had a bit of an embarrassing meltdown/release triggered by that moment. There’s so many things I wanted to say about this but I think we can all just agree that this behaviour is inappropriate, disrespectful and entirely unwarranted. IT IS HARRASSMENT. Don’t bring your shitty, entitled attitude to any gig of mine or any show or public place for that matter. Don’t speak to women like they’re objects for your entertainment. Don’t say or do anything to me that you wouldn’t say or do to your own sister or mother. If you behave like a fucking tool, YOU WILL BE CALLED OUT AND KICKED OUT. If you are with or near a stupid fucking gronk, call their behaviour out and make them accountable. If you can’t see why this behaviour is an issue YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM…

A post shared by

Must Read
X