2023-07-04 13:53:00
Since the end of May, the sex scandal surrounding the frontman of the rock band Rammstein has not subsided. The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the allegations against Till Lindemann. Before this scandal erupted, British researchers Cassandra Jones, Emmaleena Kekele and Kallia Mannusaki published the results of their study in March 2023, which focused on the problems of sexism, hostility towards women and violence in the music industry. DW spoke to the authors of the study amid discussions about Till Lindemann.
DW: Were you surprised by the accusations leveled against Till Lindemann?
Kallia Mannusaki: If there was an effect of surprise, it was more likely from how organized everything developed. It wasn’t without help. And it really struck me. But allegations that a fan was sexually assaulted by a singer did not surprise me.
Cassandra Jones: As part of our project, we communicated with 500 representatives of the music industry, for example, members of musical groups and their teams. Many said that they purposefully select women at concerts, start a conversation with them and make sure that women are available. Therefore, the messages and publications about Rammstein did not surprise me. Obviously something like this is happening with many bands and singers – all over the world. Such stories are and have always been, and not only in rock or pop music, in all genres. There have been and are rumors, allegations, and sometimes police reports or lawsuits of sexual abuse against female fans or female co-workers.
Why hasn’t there been a MeToo movement in the music industry yet?
File photo, 2022. At the Rammstein concertPhoto: Pressefoto Evans/dpa/picture alliance
Cassandra Jones: One of the reasons is that the blame for what happened is placed on women. They immediately say: “Look how she was dressed, she herself provoked.” The music industry is quick to judge: “Oh, she came to the event and had a drink. What did she expect?” The opinion was formed that men cannot do anything wrong, women themselves are responsible. If we want to get rid of this approach, attitudes and perceptions both within the musical environment itself and in society as a whole must change. Mistakes are made systematically. The industry itself has too few rules, mechanisms to defeat endemic types of sexual violence, coercion. And this structural problem is not unique to the UK or Germany, it is an international problem.
– What is going to happen?
Emmaleena Kekele: It’s time to reflect on what we say to refute the allegations and put pressure on women who have come forward to report violence. Till Lindemann’s lawyers are now threatening legal consequences for those who made accusations against him. And the message is this: we do not believe you, we have more power, more resources, we cannot be defeated.
Cassandra Jones: My partner works V music industry. When we met, he shared horror stories with me about what it was like to work in this field. I was shocked that it was considered normal that no one reacted to what was happening. Some time passed, more than one conversation took place, I learned more. Many women don’t even relate what they’ve experienced to sexual harassment. So I contacted my colleagues and we started the project.
– Against the backdrop of the scandal with the Rammstein frontman, many now say that groupies have always been around. We are talking about fans of pop or rock bands, accompanying their idols during the tour. The term is used almost exclusively for young women who are actively seeking to provide sexual favors to their idols. This is true?
Kallia Mannusaki: This is nothing but one of the manifestations of misogyny. We place the blame on a young girl who is obsessed with her idol and squeaks with delight at the sight of him. I do not think that any of these young girls could or can imagine or think that they can be harmed. They will blame and blame themselves for being abused. But even if I preen, I’m 17 years old, I put on a cool top and I feel attractive, I don’t want to get hurt. I just want to be attractive. We can’t just go and steal a nice car because we like it. But at the same time, we believe that women can belong to someone. Talking about groupies is just another example of misogyny and victimblaming.
Emmaleena Kekele: The attitude towards female fans and male fans is completely different. Women are constantly perceived as a sex object, they are not trusted as fans and simply consumers of music content. And this applies to the entire music industry, the arts, festival goers. Therefore, I think that the problem is much wider than the very concept that unites groupies.
See also:
#Music #violence #Rammstein