Arcade Fire’s Win Butler being urged by fans to cancel UK tour following allegations of sexual misconduct
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Tickets to see Arcade Fire are being offered online for a fraction of their face value amid a storm over sexual misconduct allegations against lead singer Win Butler.
The Canadian band are playing Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday with tickets for the gig originally costing more than £58.
But on Friday afternoon seats for the same concert were available for as little as £23 on secondary ticketing sites like Viagogo.
Meanwhile tickets for the band’s London O2 next Thursday were going for 26% less than face value on Twickets.
Arcade Fire is facing pressure from fans to cancel gigs or refund tickets for their upcoming UK tour dates
The accusations, which have been made by three women and one gender-fluid person and published in an article by US music site Pitchfork last weekend, has led to a swift backlash. Butler has denied the allegations.
Fans say they will boycott Arcade Fire shows and will no longer listen to their music.
Some have also taken to social media to encourage the band to take up the responsibility of reimbursing the tickets and cancelling the show.
Those who have contacted Ticketmaster have been told they would only be offered a refund in the event of a cancellation.
In a tweet to Ticketmaster, one ticketholder urged them to "do the decent thing" and offer refunds.
"Cancel the tour and refund fans," another wrote, before admitting that he had tried to sell his two tickets for half price but "can't even give them away".
Another Twitter user said "it no longer seems the right thing" to see the band in Manchester on Saturday.
The indie band's support act Feist has also pulled out of the tour.
After playing in Dublin, musician Feist announced her departure from the tour on Thursday.
This is shocking in so many levels… Specially since @arcadefire were all about “feel-good-family-celebration”… How can I, in full conscience, bring my daughters to their concerts now?… Devastating… 😥 #cancelthetour #arcadefire https://t.co/doHXDnxSEB
— tania simoes (@malaguetashh) September 2, 2022
She said that "the best way to take care of my band and crew and my family is to distance myself from this tour, not this conversation".
Butler's accusers were aged between 18 and 23 and he was in his late 30s at the time of the alleged inappropriate behaviour, which was said to have taken place between 2016 and 2020.
Butler, 42, who has been married to his Arcade Fire bandmate Régine Chassagne since 2003, has said the interactions were consensual and denies misconduct.
Please can I just give my ticket money to @FeistMusic, her band and their crew?
— Andrew Edwards (@haddockman83) September 1, 2022
This tour needs cancelling ASAP.@TicketmasterUK @UtilitaArenaBHM @arcadefire #arcadefire https://t.co/NxShHUUrCm
In a lengthy statement to Pitchfork he said: "I love Régine with all of my heart. We have been together for 20 years, she is my partner in music and in life, my soulmate and I am lucky and grateful to have her by my side...
“Today I want to clear the air about my life, poor judgment, and mistakes I have made.
“I have had consensual relationships outside of my marriage.
"There is no easy way to say this, and the hardest thing I have ever done is having to share this with my son.
“The majority of these relationships were short lived, and my wife is aware - our marriage has, in the past, been more unconventional than some... every single one of these interactions has been mutual and always between consenting adults.
“It is deeply revisionist, and frankly just wrong, for anyone to suggest otherwise.
"I have never touched a woman against her will, and any implication that I have is simply false.
“I vehemently deny any suggestion that I forced myself on a woman or demanded sexual favours. That simply, and unequivocally, never happened..."
Arcade Fire have played shows in Dublin this week and are due to start a few UK dates, which kick off on Friday night.
They are then set to do gigs across Europe, the US and Canada.
