Aussie Festival Axes US Producer From Line-up Following Sexual Assault Allegations

Aussie music festival Let Them Eat Cake and Breakfest have today axed US producer The Gaslamp Killer from its 2018 line-up following allegations that the musician drugged and raped two women in 2013. 

As Rolling Stone reports, one of the women took to Twitter over the weekend to allege that the LA-based artist, real name William Bensussen, engaged in "non-consensual sex with both of us while we were completely incapacitated".

Melbourne promoters The Operatives and Let Them Eat Cake both announced today that all of Bensussen's Australian tour dates have been axed. 

"In light of the accusations against The Gaslamp Killer and all it encompasses, we feel that a cancellation of the upcoming tour is currently the only option," The Operatives' statement reads.

"He will no longer be performing at Breakfest, Northern Bass and Let Them Eat Cake, all of which have consistently advocated their festivals as safe and all inclusive spaces.

"Hopefully there will be some clarity on the entire case in the near future, and justice is served in truth. Be good to each other people, there is enough negativity in the world, and abuse of any kind is something that we will not tolerate in any way, shape or form."

Meanwhile, Bensussen has denied all allegations in a statement posted to his Twitter account. 

"Firstly, I want it to be known that I would never hurt or endanger a woman," he wrote.

"I would never drug a woman, and I would never put anyone in a situation where they were not in control, or take anything that they weren’t offering.

"Consent is intimate, and has left room for people who were not present to wonder what happened. In this case consent was between three people, in the form of an offer which I accepted."

See the full post below. 

My response to @chelseaelaynne ‘s letter below. pic.twitter.com/6Zgfq0cOn7

— G L K (@GASLAMPKILLER) October 13, 2017