Australian musician Dean Lewis and Universal Music Group have ended their decade-long partnership, months after he apologised for his inappropriate behaviour towards fans.
“We can confirm that Dean Lewis is no longer signed to Universal Music Australia or any Universal Music Group label,” a Universal Music Australia (UMA) spokesperson told Rolling Stone AU/NZ. A separate statement from Lewis reads: “UMA and I have parted ways. I am no longer signed to Universal Music Australia.”
A spokesperson for Lewis told the publication that although he has no immediate plans to engage with other music labels, he plans to pursue his career as an independent artist and will release new music this year.
In October, Lewis shared an Instagram apology after videos and screenshots appeared online, showing him allegedly flirting and having private chats with adult fans over the years.
“I understand why people are angry and disappointed after learning embarrassing details of intimate, private conversations and relationships I’ve had with consenting adults over the past decade, but I want to emphasise that none of this is illegal,” he wrote in his statement on Instagram.
The singer said the sudden public exposure of years’ worth of texts was a shock, but he understands why people are upset. “In the past few days, social media has made public a decade-plus of private conversations with a number of women, all of adult age. I don’t fault these individuals for having hard feelings, and I don’t want anyone defending me. I was breathtakingly dumb texting and flirting in the manner I have over many years,” Lewis said. “I should have been more sensitive that not everyone might look at our interactions the way I often did.”
He went on to offer the following apology: “From the bottom of my heart, I want to sincerely apologise to those I’ve hurt. This is not only an apology to the women who have spoken up, but those who haven’t and felt hurt by my words or behaviour. I also need to apologise to my family and fans who I’ve gravely disappointed.”
Lewis called the experience “an overdue wake up call” and said, “I’ve done and said incredibly stupid, insensitive, and embarrassing things that I’m mortified by when looking back”.
Lewis stated he’s already taking steps to make things right: “I am enrolling myself into intense therapy to make better choices and dramatically shift my approach to dating, relationships, and showing greater care to the women in my life,” adding: “Changes will also include a whole new set of rules so there’s never confusion or questions about my intent when I’m engaging with fans or responding to messages in the future.”
Subsequently, his ARIA and TikTok Award nominations were withdrawn, with an ARIA spokesperson telling the Daily Telegraph that the awards body had “been advised that the artist and his management have requested to withdraw from Song of the Year, which we have now actioned”.
The singer was nominated for Song of the Year at the ARIA Awards for his song “With You”.
Lewis’ ARIA withdrawal came alongside his removal as a nominee for the annual TikTok Awards, where he was up for the Music Artist of the Year Award.
“To present Dean with a genuine opportunity to step back and focus on his wellbeing, TikTok has agreed to remove Dean from nomination for their annual awards at our request,” a spokesperson said, per the Daily Telegraph.
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