Anti-Flag suddenly broke up back in July via a brief post on their Patreon. The band then returned with a much lengthier statement one week later detailing accusations of sexual assault against their frontman Justin Sane. Those accusations then came to light via a Rolling Stone article published earlier this week, where 12 women spoke out against Sane.
Anti-Flag has now issued another statement apologizing to those 12 women and, while recognizing that Sane obviously needs professional help, chastises him for using his position in the band to do what he (allegedly) did. Read the full statement below.
"In light of the recent article in Rolling Stone magazine, to Kristina, Jenn, Molly, Rebecca, Suzanne, Mat, Susie, Stefanie, Karina, Ella, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Tali, we would like to say thank you for your courage in sharing the pain you have experienced," wrote Anti-Flag in their statement. "And, to others who may yet come forward, while you don't owe anyone your story, please know that you are not alone and that we believe you.
"To Justin, we believe you are very sick and in need of serious professional help. We want to have compassion and have faith in restorative justice, but fuck you for hurting so many people, not just the ones who have bravely come forward, but anyone still carrying their pain internally.
"Fuck you for exploiting the work of the band and the many people associated with it for so long. As many predators do, it appears you used our beliefs as a cover for egregious activities that you clearly knew we would never condone."
"To everyone, we collectively and individually still have far more questions than answers in this moment. We have been learning of and processing all of this information in real-time. We trusted Justin greatly and are now learning that we were deceived, lied to, and kept in the dark for the entirety of our association.
"As more details have been shared since the release of the podcast, we have been waiting for Justin to do the right thing. Given his lack of contrition in any meaningful way, it is very clear that he is absolutely not the person we were led to believe him to be."
