Medhane Faces Sexual Assault Allegation, Responds
Brooklyn rapper Medhane has responded to allegations of sexual assault that surfaced via social media. In a statement, Medhane wrote, “I had a sexual relationship with a woman, and spoke poorly of her to another person. I acknowledge that this is problematic behavior and have since attempted to make amends with this young woman to no avail.” Later in his statement, Medhane called his behavior “emotionally abusive,” but also claimed “a young woman is misrepresenting a sexual encounter.” Find the transcript of Medhane’s statement below.
In a follow-up statement (also transcribed below), Medhane wrote, “I am not a rapist. I did not rape anybody.” He also elaborated on his “sexual relationship with a woman,” claiming, “On the night in question this woman gave me her consent and never vocally made clear to me that she did not want to continue having sex with me or that she wanted me to stop. The next day she expressed that the sex was not enjoyable for her and THAT is what I apologized for. We were in touch afterwards.” Medhane also said he is “taking accountability for the way [he] made this woman feel.”
MIKE, the Bronx rapper who has collaborated with Medhane on multiple songs, released a statement on his Instagram story (viewed by Pitchfork) addressing the allegations. “I can understand how it may seem on social media that n----s is complacent in this culture of toxic and dangerous spaces but in real life I’ve disconnected and held accountable anybody that I’ve known to be an abuser,” he wrote. “Also, any interaction I’ve had with Medhane since I was notified about the situation has been holding him accountable and letting him know he’s responsible of hurting this woman; and I think anybody that loved or cared for him or has love and care for people should do the same.”
Slauson Malone, who worked with Medhane as Medslaus, also distanced himself from his former collaborator, saying the “‘scene’ as we know it [is] unable to hold misogynistic behavior accountable.”
Representatives for Medhane, MIKE, and Slauson Malone offered no additional comment when reached by Pitchfork.
Medhane:
Rape is reprehensible and unforgivable.
I am deeply pained by these accusations. Our protection comes from speaking truth and making it known.
I had a sexual relationship with a woman, and spoke poorly of her to another person.
I acknowledge that this is problematic behavior and have since attempted to make amends with this young woman to no avail.
After her tweet in which she called me a rapist, I reached out to her to try to understand how I made her feel and what I could do to mend the hurt. She didn’t respond.
With the tweets and retweets by individuals of this accusation, I must respond even though to do so puts me in the position of saying a young woman is misrepresenting a sexual encounter.
Speaking poorly of a woman after you have sex with her is wrong and I accept the repercussions of that behavior, as it is indeed emotionally abusive.
I am learning from this experience and I will continue to offer a space to communicate to my accuser and her family in attempts to bring healing in a holistic way.
Peace
I would like to make this clear. I am not a rapist. I did not rape anybody. Like I said before, rape is reprehensible an unforgivable. I recognize that this is not about clearing my name but taking accountability for the way I made this woman feel. Me and this woman had a consensual sexual relationship that went bad. On the night in question this woman gave me her consent and never vocally made clear to me that she did not want to continue having sex with me or that she wanted me to stop. The next day she expressed that the sex was not enjoyable for her and THAT is what I apologized for. We were in touch afterwards. MAVI only got involved after he asked me what I thought of this young woman and I spoke poorly of her. This is what I take accountability for. This woman has not come forward with her side of the story and instead has decided to frame my reaching out to her to further understand version of events and what happened from her perspective as gaslighting. I am not trying to gaslight her, I’m actually trying to protect this woman by not posting the receipts and text messages that I have. I don’t know what else to do or say at this point. This is a real ass experience real people are being effected [sic] by this and it truly seems that none of u give a fuck. This whole scene that everyone is talking about is plagued by shit like this. Multiple women have complained about being assaulted by men in these male-dominated spaces and nobody does anything. I am trying to take accountability and create a space where ANYONE who feels like I have trespassed against them can come forward and speak their peace. That has not happened. Instead everyone is just saying, “Fuck Medhane, he’s a rapist.” I do not tolerate rape or sexual assault of any kind and I myself have distanced myself from people who I have known to be abusers. This narrative of me being a sexual predator is complete B.S. I hate that this has to come to this but this is how I truly feel regardless of any legal counsel or what my friends think or what people think about protecting a reputation. Again, I did not rape this woman, and I am not a rapist. I’m sorry for hurting this woman’s feelings, and I’m sorry to people who are fans of me for letting them down by making a mistake out of poor judgment. But once again I must emphasize that I did not physically abuse this woman or anyone, and that I have not forced myself on anyone, and that I have not been manipulative with anyone. The way I communicate with people and act generally is a byproduct of my own mental health issues that I struggle with on a daily basis. This shit is not easy, cool, or funny, and I invite anyone who has questions to DM me and ask me straight up what happened. Do not contact the victim, she has expressed on multiple occasions that she DOES NOT want to talk about it as the whole shit is very triggering for everyone involved. Thank you.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
http://www.rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)Crisis Text Line
http://www.facebook.com/crisistextline (chat support)
SMS: Text “HERE” to 741-741
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
