Zion Bittenbender, former vocalist for the band Vulvodynia, has publicly addressed his departure from the group. His statement, delivered through a series of Instagram posts, claims his ex-bandmates knew sexual assault allegations against him were false but still removed him due to financial pressures.
Key Takeaways
- Zion Bittenbender asserts former bandmates knew he was innocent of sexual assault allegations.
- Vulvodynia was removed from a major tour due to venue concerns over Bittenbender's presence.
- The band's manager and a booking agent cited business and financial risks as reasons for tour removal.
- Bittenbender claims the band initially stood by him but later distanced themselves.
- Vulvodynia eventually announced Bittenbender's departure, citing a need to maintain an environment reflecting their values.
Initial Allegations and Band's Silence
Sexual assault allegations against Zion Bittenbender surfaced shortly after Vulvodynia announced him as their new vocalist. The band initially remained silent on the matter. This period of quiet led to speculation among fans and industry observers.
Bittenbender was added to the band's touring lineup and then removed. This back-and-forth created confusion. The band's silence continued for several weeks after the initial allegations became public.
Timeline of Events
The controversy began with allegations against Zion Bittenbender. He was briefly announced as Vulvodynia's new vocalist. The band then faced pressure from venues and promoters, leading to tour cancellations and internal discussions about his role.
Vulvodynia's Official Statement
Earlier this month, Vulvodynia released an official statement regarding the situation. The band apologized for the delay in their response, stating they took time for careful consideration. They announced their decision to part ways with Bittenbender.
The band also confirmed their removal from an upcoming US tour with Defeated Sanity. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining an environment that reflects their values and respects their fans and peers. Vulvodynia acknowledged that their initial handling of the situation was not ideal and apologized for it.
"We take allegations of sexual misconduct extremely seriously. Our priority is maintaining an environment that reflects our values and respects our fans, peers, and the wider community."
The statement concluded by announcing plans to find a new vocalist, with Lwandile handling vocal duties for their remaining shows this year. They thanked fans for their patience.
Bittenbender's Defense and Allegations Against the Band
Following Vulvodynia's statement, Zion Bittenbender broke his silence. He posted a fifteen-slide series on Instagram, sharing screenshots of communications with the band and their manager. He stated he felt compelled to defend himself.
Bittenbender's posts focused on the reasons behind Vulvodynia's removal from the Defeated Sanity tour. He presented evidence suggesting the band was removed due to business decisions rather than a belief in the allegations against him.
Business Decisions Cited
- Venue threats to cancel shows if Bittenbender remained.
- Risk of financial losses for the tour.
- Desire to avoid drawing further attention to the situation.
One screenshot showed a message from Vulvodynia's manager, Lyn. It explained that the US agent confirmed Vulvodynia's removal from the Defeated Sanity tour. The message explicitly stated this was a venue and promoter decision due to threats of cancellations when allegations first surfaced.
Another email, from Liam Frith, further clarified the situation. Frith, likely a representative for the tour or Defeated Sanity, reiterated that Vulvodynia's removal was a business decision. He stated that if Bittenbender remained, promoters would pull out, negatively impacting Defeated Sanity financially.
Bittenbender claimed Vulvodynia only got kicked from the tour because they believed he was innocent and stood up for him. This directly contradicts the band's later statement implying his removal was due to the severity of the allegations.
Internal Band Communications Revealed
Bittenbender's Instagram posts included a voice note from Kris Xenopoulos, a member of Vulvodynia. In the recording, Xenopoulos suggested that people did not believe the allegations were real. He stated, "the thing about this though is not that people believe that this is real, they're just so worried about money."
This voice note appears to support Bittenbender's claim that the band's concern was primarily financial. Xenopoulos also expressed confidence the band would recover, stating, "we'll get over this, we just need to prove ourselves… it might take a year or two."
Another screenshot showed a draft statement Vulvodynia considered posting but ultimately did not. This draft explicitly mentioned that the tour removal was "a result of false rumours spread about our new vocalist, Zion." Bittenbender stated that the majority of the band agreed on this statement.
Luke Haaroff, another band member, was also quoted in a screenshot. He allegedly told a fan that Vulvodynia was removed from the tour "because we're standing by our completely innocent friend." This further indicates internal belief in Bittenbender's innocence.
Distancing and Final Decision
Bittenbender claims that after a period of silence and no updates, the band began to distance themselves. He provided screenshots showing band members removing themselves from collaborative posts with him, a move he interpreted as an attempt to appear disassociated for future touring opportunities.
Approximately two weeks later, Bittenbender stated he was informed via video call that he would be parting ways with the band. The reason given was the financial loss caused by the backlash, which management and venues feared the band could not recover from if he remained.
He expressed frustration at the lack of a joint statement, claiming the band had agreed not to post anything until they all agreed on its contents. Despite this, Vulvodynia posted their official statement two days after Bittenbender made his own public comment on his Instagram story.
The former vocalist posted his own short message out of annoyance, stating, "The community is a shitshow and scared management enough to get me removed/cancelled. Nobody is man enough to post a statement and just say what happened." He claims this post led to Vulvodynia blocking him on all platforms.
Bittenbender concluded his extensive Instagram post by stating he would continue working on new projects and covers. He thanked Vulvodynia for the experience and opportunity, aiming to provide answers to the public.