Paramore singer Hayley Williams has joined an increasing chorus of voices calling for Front Porch Step to be removed from the current Vans Warped Tour lineup after allegations that Jack McElfresh has sexually harassed several underage girls came to light.
Ohio based punk guitarist McElfresh who goes under the name Front Porch Step whilst performing, has recently been accused of alleged misconduct including harassment of multiple underage girls via text message, with this Change.org petition claiming to have screenshots of McElfresh contacting girls of as young as 13 and 14-years-old with sexually suggestive content.
McElfresh has since taken to Facebook in a lengthy post to voice his “side of the story” refuting any and all claims regarding the “disgusting rumours”:
“To be associated with words like child molester, pedophile, and rapist – are disgusting and deplorable and I am neither and NEVER will be. To be lumped in to that category is just gross. I have never had any romantic and/or sexual physical interaction with an underage person nor do I have the desire. Any woman that I had online interaction with was consenting and part of the conversations, they sought me out and I answered.”
His comments have prompted a variety of responses online, including from several prominent artists such as Williams, who has shared her dismay at the presence of “pervy/predatory vibes” in the music scene:
https://twitter.com/yelyahwilliams/status/616372813511983104
https://twitter.com/yelyahwilliams/status/616395038424219648
Elsewhere Beartooth’s Taylor Lumley and Nicholas Steinborn of The Wonder Years have also voiced their concern over Front Porch Step’s continued spot on the Warped Lineup.
https://twitter.com/tlums/status/616277269124894720
@Frontporchstep Your arrogance is mindblowing. Go away.
— Nicholas Steinborn (@nicksteinborn) July 1, 2015
The Vans Warped Tour, which features Aussies The Amity Affliction, continues around the US through till August 8th.
Watch: Paramore – Ain’t It Fun
