The illustrious British pop artist has been charged with six counts of sexual assault to the dismay of fans worldwide, and to add to his following’s disappointment, their favourite ‘soft boy’ artist turned alleged abuser has cancelled the Antipodean and European legs of his world tour.
Alex O'Connor has been charged with six counts of sexual assault
Amid this latest besmirching of the music industry, Gen Z have taken to their comfort app, TikTok, to express their contempt for O’Connor in the form of ceremonial conflagration of treasured merchandise. One fan even penned her frustration, posting “y’all tearing down posters, I need laser removal”, showing a tattoo etched ‘Apricot Princess’ – the artist’s second studio album released in 2017.
This allegation continues to stimulate the debate about whether music should be dissociated from the musician. This summer, controversy arose when Chris Brown was announced as headliner of the British music festival, Wireless, despite being banned from the UK in 2010 following allegations of assaulting ex-girlfriend and world-renowned singer, Rihanna. The music industry’s hesitancy to boycott celebrated abusers such as Brown, R Kelly and Dizzee Rascal, and its apparent acceptance and condonation, is writ large.
In response to this, fans have voiced suggestions in support of the notion that the music must stand alone and be able to be appreciated for its value as an artform. Proposals include Rex Orange County’s streaming income be suspended until the trial is over, with profits reimbursed if innocent or donated to a sexual assault survivors’ charity if found guilty. This would enable listeners to continue revelling in their favourite music without suffering cognitive dissonance over financially supporting an accused sex offender.
