Swans Frontman Michael Gira Has Been Accused of Rape by Former Collaborator Larkin Grimm

Singer/songwriter Larkin Grimm has written a post on her personal Facebook page claiming that Swans front man Michael Giral raped her during the spring of 2008, when she was recording her album Parplar, released via Gira's Young God label.

Grimm says that Gira continued to make unwanted sexual advances towards her in the months that followed, and alleges that she was dropped from Young God after confronting him about the incident.

Her post concludes with a show of support for Kesha, and comes only days after a New York Supreme Court judge ruled she must remain in her contract with her producer Dr. Luke, who she alleges abused her sexually, emotionally, and psychologically over a period of ten years. "I know how you feel," Grimm writes, "At least I got out of my record deal, though I was never offered another one after that."

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I will give you some history about why I am sharing the story about Thomas Sayers Ellis's abusive behavior now. I didn'…

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Larkin Grimm

on

Thursday, 25 February 2016

Gira issued a statement via Facebook, calling the accusations "a slanderous lie" and and vowing to “respond vigorously to defend my name against this horrible slur". This was followed by a statement from his wife, Jennifer.

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re horrible accusations from larkin grimm about me:I am completely shocked myself. This is a slanderous lie. I will…

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Michael Gira

on

Thursday, 25 February 2016

Speaking to Pitchfork, Larkin Grimm said:

"I am not in this for vengeance. I am not angry. I do not want Michael Gira to have his life destroyed. If one in four or five women has been raped, we have to acknowledge the possibility that one in five men might be rapists. What are we going to do with them all? Send them to jail for 10 years and cut off their dicks? NO. It is the whole culture that has to change. We have created this epidemic of harassment and disrespect and violence together. We have to end it together."

This is a developing story, which we will update as more information becomes available.