PWR BTTM Respond to Sexual Abuse, Anti-Semitism Allegations

In a new Facebook post, PWR BTTM’s Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce have responded to allegations of sexual abuse, predatory behavior, and anti-Semitism made against Hopkins. The accusations, posted in a private Facebook group and then circulated on Twitter and Reddit, were made by a person who claims to have “personally seen” Hopkins “initiate inappropriate sexual contact with people despite several ‘nos’ and without warning or consent.” In their response, Hopkins and Bruce write, “Ben has not been contacted by any survivor(s) of abuse. These allegations are shocking to us and we take them very seriously. Further, the alleged behavior is not representative of who Ben is and the manner in which they try to conduct themselves.” Read the full statement below.

PWR BTTM have also set up an email address, pwrbttm.ask@gmail.com, “through which a survivor or someone working directly with a survivor can discuss the allegations being expressed on social media.” The band says that the email address will be monitored by a professional mediator and Hopkins will not have access to it.

The accuser also shared a photo of Hopkins posing next to a swastika symbol on a beach. Hopkins previously apologized for the anti-Semitic photograph in December 2016. “To anyone who was hurt by this image, know that it was me as a stupid kid and not who I am today, and I am so so sorry,” they wrote, saying the photo was taken in 2011.

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