Canadian rock mega-band Arcade Fire will be returning to Los Angeles tonight for their first concert in the Southland since allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against lead singer Win Butler in August.
The show is the first of a two night engagement at the Kia Forum in Inglewood as part of the band's "WE" Tour in support of their 2020 album of the same name, with stops remaining in San Francisco, Seattle and ending with five dates in Canada.
An August 27, 2022 report by Pitchfork detailed allegations by three women accusing Butler of sending sexually inappropriate texts and calls. A fourth accuser, who identifies as gender fluid, said the front-man sexually assaulted them on two occasions.
All accusers claim that Butler took advantage of power dynamics that favored him given his stardom and a large age gap.
Butler apologized for the conduct but maintained that the incidents were consensual, stating, "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 favors. That simply, and unequivocally, never happened."
Butler has been married to bandmate Régine Chassagne since 2003, and together they have one son.
In response to the allegations, Chassagne also released a statement in support of her husband, saying in part, "I know what is in his heart, and I know he has never, and would never, touch a woman without her consent and I am certain he never did. He has lost his way and he has found his way back."
The artist Beck was originally slated to open Arcade Fire on the tour but dropped out in October without providing a reason, reported Billboard. He was replaced by band Boukman Eksperyans from Haiti. Another opener, Canadian musician Leslie Feist, dropped out of European leg of the tour after two shows, and cited the allegations against Butler as the reason.
After the allegations surfaced, some fans who had bought tickets to the tour demanded a refunded, but were declined by Ticketmaster who held that all sales were final, reported Daily Hive.
As of publishing, tickets remained available for both LA concerts via Ticketmaster. Resale site StubHub had tickets selling for far below face-value.
Arcade Fire had a stark rise to prominence, becoming one of the biggest rock bands of the aughts and 2010s, selling millions of records and racking up awards, including winning the Album of the Year Grammy for their 2010 album The Suburbs.