Homewrecker frontman Matt Barnum has been publicly accused of sexual conduct by multiple women. Yesterday, June 20th, a woman identified as Riley came forward on Twitter with the below thread, alleging Barnum had engaged in sexual misconduct online with her, soliciting nude photographs from her in exchange for alcohol when she was 16-years-old.
there's something i've been wanting to talk about pretty much since i was 16 and it happened. and then i turned 19 and realized how fucked up it was. and then i turned 23 and realized i legitimately have a responsibility to speak out about it and stop it from happening again.
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
lately a lot has been going on to where i actually feel supported speaking out and i literally cannot hold my tongue anymore bc the person in question knows what is coming for him and i know others will come forward if i speak out
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
so i'm posting this sincerely hoping that anyone else who has been groomed, targeted, and affected by this individual's predatory behavior in any way will feel comfortable coming forward to me and knowing they have an entire community supporting them
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
matt barnum from @Homewrecker_OH solicited nudes from me when i was 16 and he was 24~ in exchange for a bottle of whiskey even though he is "straightedge" and then manipulated me for several years which is nothing compared to what he did to other girls in our local scene.
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
i know for a FACT that he did worse things to YOUNGER girls than me in our community at the time. after several years i called him out for it but there is a serious pattern there and we have all been silent for far to long
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
i never wanted to be the first person to come forward about this but i literally cannot stand by anymore and sit with what happened without addressing it. sorry to my friends who may be affected by this but you know who he is and denied it.
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
please if you need someone to talk to i am here for you. there is also an instagram account (not run by me) dedicated to sharing stories of what matt has done https://t.co/x1xyjmpzWJ
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
matt targeted me and any other young and impressionable girl who came to shows and used his position as a founder of the ashtabula DIY scene and a member of Homewrecker as a way to manipulate us. People quit his band because of who he is and i expect them to speak up about this.
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
obviously it's like 4am but this is normal hours for me. what happened to me is nothing compared to some of the other shit he's done but even my story should be enough to show you who he is.
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
from a friend on insta, pretty weird how matt barnum would act like being straight edge made him a better person than everyone else and then do shit like this pic.twitter.com/cRGixVQHOS
— riley (@coorsbably) June 21, 2020
Since making her tweets and sharing this Instagram account, numerous others have come forward with allegations of disturbing sexual misconduct against Barnum.The band’s social media presence has gone dark in light of the allegations. Furthermore, the band have been dropped by their label Good Fight Music, who issued the below statement:
“It has come to our attention that multiple women have accused Matt Barnum of Homewrecker of sexual misconduct while underage over the last number of years.
Good Fight Music is no longer associated with Homewrecker effective immediately. We will never tolerate, condone, or stay silent about sexual aggression on our roster, especially towards minors. BELIEVE WOMEN.“
Harm’s Way guitarist Bo Lueders, who toured alongside Homewrecker in the past, commented on the allegations brought against Barnum:
I’ve been in a bit of shock. I know I should say something because I considered him a brother and really never thought he’d be capable of what’s coming out, but I am sincerely so disappointed and furious over barnum’s behavior that I can’t think of anything articulate.
— bo (@bosxe) June 21, 2020
I have immense guilt over bringing someone like that with us all over the world for a few years, no doubt enabling that abuse. I can speak for everyone in my band and say that we are fucking sick to our stomachs. It’s not ok and it’s not being ignored.
— bo (@bosxe) June 21, 2020
*In light of a retraction of an allegation, another member of the band’s name has been removed from this story.
[via Lambgoat]
