A new statement issued by organizers behind the annual ‘Slam Dunk‘ festivals in the UK and Europe have announced that one of their directors has stepped down in the wake of allegations. While not expressly named in this new official statement, a women came forward this week with allegations of being sexual assaulted multiple times by Ben Ray, founder of the fest.
As noted by Lambgoat, she shared those allegations via Instagram and other social media platforms yesterday, April 23rd, along with a screencap of an alleged conversation between the pair.
Addressing the matter today, ‘Slam Dunk‘ issued a statement, in which they claimed that the unnamed director “strongly refuted” the allegations put towards him, but would be stepping down from the festival, as the matter makes its ways through “legal” channels. That statement reads as follows:
“COMPANY STATEMENT
WE ARE AWARE OF ALLEGATIONS PUBLISHED YESTERDAY RELATING TO ONE OF OUR DIRECTORS. WE TAKE THESE ALLEGATIONS SERIOUSLY AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY MAY BE DISTRESSING AND HARD TO PROCESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR SLAM DUNK FANS, STAFF, AND ARTISTS ARE, AS ALWAYS, OUR TOP PRIORITY. WHILE HE STRONGLY REFUTES THESE ALLEGATIONS, THE DIRECTOR IN QUESTION HAS AGREED, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD, TO STEP DOWN FROM SLAM DUNK OPERATIONS WHILE THIS MATTER IS ONGOING.
SLAM DUNK REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING A SAFE, RESPECTFUL, AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, AND CUSTOMERS. OUR VALUES AND CULTURE ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO HOW WE OPERATE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THEM.
IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR US TO COMMENT FURTHER ON AN ONGOING LEGAL MATTER.
HOWEVER, WE PROMISE TRANSPARENCY AND HONESTY TO OUR SLAM DUNK COMMUNITY AND WILL PROVIDE UPDATES WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DO SO.”
This year’s UK ‘Slam Dunk‘ festivals are set to take place in late May with Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose, Sublime and many more performing..
