Dirty Projectors’ Amber Coffman, Best Coast, and More Accuse Publicist of Sexual Misconduct
Amber Coffman photo by Ebru Yildiz / Best Coast photo by Janell Shirtcliff
Update 5:10 p.m.: Heathcliff Berru has stepped down as CEO of Life or Death PR. Below, find a statement from the company.
Update (1/20 6:46 a.m.): Berru has also released a statement. Read it below.
Update (1/20 11:00 a.m.): Killer Mike has tweeted a series of thoughts about the Berru/Life or Death situation. He wrote, “Amber deserves all our support and she and those other women have mine.” He also added, “Cliff is still my friend and I will support him in being a better human being.” Find his full statement below.
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Last night, in a series of tweets, Dirty Projectors‘ Amber Coffman accused Heathcliff Berru, the founder of Life or Death PR & Management, of sexual misconduct. Coffman’s allegations inspired many other women, including Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino, to comment on Berru’s alleged behavior.
Coffman began by relating the story of when a “very popular music publicist rubbed my ass and bit my hair at a bar a couple years ago,” before naming Berru as the publicist.
Was just re-telling/re-remembering a story abt how a very popular music publicist RUBBED my ass and BIT my hair at a bar a couple years ago
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
This was someone I barely knew and had just met. He did it in front of 4 of my male friends. Still makes me so damn mad thinking about it
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Still mad at myself as well for not punching him in the nose, but I totally froze up. Weird survival instinct I guess
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Just was looking at their current roster and it’s amazing. People I know even. Funny how shitty, fake ass people can have so much success
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
And in case anyone was wondering who the ass rubbing, hair biting mother fucker was, I’m not afraid to say it-
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
It was Heathcliff Berru, at Life or Death PR and MGMT
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
I’ve been told many women have had scary stories about him for years but are scared to speak up. And dudes overlook it and keep hiring him
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Tired of sketchy ass dudes and sexual predators getting a pass from their “bros.” Grow a spine and hold your friends accountable
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Cosentino wrote:
@Amber_Coffman good for you for doing this. I was too freaked out to ever say anything. Seriously he’s not a good person on any level.
— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 19, 2016
@motormouthmedia @Amber_Coffman I’m so sad to hear so many women have had this experience w/ him but I’m happy it’s being brought to light
— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 19, 2016
@eieio1234 @dangervillage @Amber_Coffman how can that piece of shit’s behavior be summed up w/ just a hashtag? #StopHeathcliffBerru
— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 19, 2016
Coffman said that when she informed Domino, her label, of Berru’s actions, they stopped working with him. “They told me they’ve held their commitment of not working with him ever since, and I really appreciate that gesture,” she wrote. “More should follow suit.”
Just woke up to so many responses from last night and I’m stunned! I was really just venting an had no idea it would get such a response…
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Thanks so much for all the support- seems clear that it can be helpful to share these stories. When it happened I was afraid of my own wrath
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
I told my friends and a few people in the music biz that I knew closely but that’s it. I now wish I had said more sooner…
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Maybe it could’ve spared more from having the same thing + worse happen to them. Unfortunately these kind of scenarios are common for women
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
What happened to me is of course the mellow side of the kind of things that happen to women- maybe it’s not as easy to share certain stories
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
But I hope those who want to will feel more supported to do so
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
I do want to say that when this first happened, I told Domino records, who were working on projects with him + they stopped working with him
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
They told me they’ve held their commitment of not working with him ever since, and I really appreciate that gesture. More should follow suit
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
The accusations were also echoed by music industry figures like Deradoorian, Tearist, former MTV host Shirley Braha, publicist Beth Martinez, and more.
Thank you @Amber_Coffman in 2009 he grabbed my ass and then held me down onto my couch as he unzipped his pants &forced my hand on his dick.
— TEARIST (@_TEARIST_) January 19, 2016
.@Amber_Coffman I told our “manager” at the time who said “we are going to have to get over that arent we” if I cared about my band.
— TEARIST (@_TEARIST_) January 19, 2016
Life or Death was founded by Berru in 2008. They represent dozens of artists, such as D’Angelo, Earl Sweatshirt, DIIV, Kelela, Killer Mike, and more. Following the accusations, they seem to have lost at least one client: Wavves. Speedy Ortiz’s Sadie Dupuis, whose band has worked with Life or Death, tweeted that they never met Berru, but are re-evaluating their relationship with the company.
Update, 5:09 p.m.: DIIV have severed ties with Life or Death PR:
DIIV will no longer be working with Life or Death PR.
— DIIV (@DIIV) January 19, 2016
Update, 9:03 p.m.: Speedy Ortiz have officially severed ties with Life or Death PR:
we’re thankful to the folks at life or death we worked w directly (not heathcliff). but after hearing these stories we’re no longer w/ LoD
— sadie dupuis (@sad13) January 19, 2016
wishing best to folks who worked there. they seem nauseated. but doesn’t feel personally ok to work w a company built by an attempted rapist
— sadie dupuis (@sad13) January 19, 2016
Update, 9:10 p.m.: Kelela has also stopped working with the company:
Just wanna say I stand with all the women who are courageously speaking out. I am no longer a client of @LifeorDeathPR/heathcliff
— Kelela (@kelelam) January 20, 2016
Update, 10:05 p.m.: Chelsea Wolfe shared her experiences with Berru:
@motormouthmedia he tried to kiss me once after what I thought was a casual business meeting. I just turned my face &
— CHELSEA WOLFE (@CCHELSEAWWOLFE) January 20, 2016
@motormouthmedia thought, what a dumb weirdo! sucks to know he was creeping on other women even harder
— CHELSEA WOLFE (@CCHELSEAWWOLFE) January 20, 2016
Update, 5:10 p.m.: Life or Death PR has issued the following statement:
Life or Death has a zero tolerance policy for the type of conduct alleged in today’s on-line postings. We take these allegations very seriously.
The men and women who make up this company do not, and will not, condone or tolerate any conduct described in the on-line postings. Life Or Death is 3 men and 3 women who are committed to promoting art and serving the clients that we’re so privileged to represent. We are taking measures to ensure that the alleged behavior did not, and will not, make its way into company operations or impact our commitment to promoting art and assisting our clients.
We are grateful to Heathcliff Berru for all the work he’s done to date and his creative vision at the company. We appreciate and support his decision to step down as CEO of Life Or Death.
Pitchfork has reached out to Berru for comment.
Update (1/20 6:46 a.m.): Berru has released the following statement, via LA Weekly.
There have been several reports about my alleged inappropriate behavior which deserve a response. I am deeply sorry for those who I have offended by my actions and how I have made certain women feel. If I crossed the line of decency or respectfulness in situations when I was drunk and under the influence, there is no excuse of course. To be clear, while my conduct may have been inappropriate, I have never drugged anyone or engaged in that type of behavior. Nevertheless, I do not want to be the type of person who would let drugs or alcohol take command of his life and compromise how he treats people. Yet I have been this person and it’s time to put a stop to all of this. Create a world with one less inappropriate man.
I have been fighting a losing battle against drugs and alcohol for many years and will be checking into a rehabilitation facility in the hope that I can improve my chances of winning that fight. A year ago, I was confronted by a peer and began to try to clean up and make things right with therapy and with an eye towards quitting the addiction. The shame and sadness feels as strong now as it did then and I am making an immediate change.
I have already lost my wife, abandoned my family, and destroyed those I love as a result of my shameful, embarrassing, unacceptable behavior. I deeply apologize to them as well. By no means do they deserve to feel the pain of my actions. Please give them the space they deserve. They were the light at the end of a dark tunnel. I was married during some of these years and hid my problems from everyone well. Especially her and her family. Totally inexcusable.
In no way do these allegations reflect on Life or Death PR, its staff, or anyone associated with the company. These are my issues, not theirs. I could not be more proud of the company and what it stands for. That being said I have stepped down as the CEO and relinquishing all responsibility to the current president, Nick Dierl. The company shouldn’t have to deal with this distraction and I want Nick and the rest of the team to continue to do their good work while I take care of myself.
It is unclear whether Berru will continue to profit from the company.
Update (1/20 7:03 a.m.): Coffman has addressed Berru’s statement via Twitter:
Love that Heathcliff’s initial statement uses “alleged.” He knows damned well what he did. That’s what I call a half assed apology
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 20, 2016
Update (1/20 11:00 a.m.): Killer Mike tweeted:
My publicist lost his wife, biz & rep. My friend got an ear full from me about how fucked up he behaved. Amber deserves all our support and she and those other women have mine. My day to day publicist is Dunkin [Duncan Will, Life or Death publicist] and he will continue to be. Cliff is still my friend and I will support him in being a better human being. Life or Death is no more and Cliff will be dealing with his drug and alcohol issues. My real desire is to see these women whole healthy and rocking out like great artists and members of the culture. I’m glad the employees (former) of Life or Death had a plan ready for clients and we chug along without Cliff but with hope that he grows into the best version of himself we all know is there. My best wishes again to Amber and all the women involved. Your bravery is admirable.
Disclosure: Berru was a Pitchfork intern in 2005. Pitchfork is in frequent communication with Life or Death PR about coverage of the artists they represent.
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