A Public Clarification on the Vancouver Incident
The woman identified as the victim of a sexual assault by musician Geordie Greep has publicly detailed her account of an October 7 encounter, contradicting claims made on flyers distributed at the artist’s Vancouver concert. The woman, using the pseudonym “Laura,” told Paste that she was sexually assaulted while passed out, but explicitly rejected the label of “rapist” that was circulated by an acquaintance outside the Pearl venue on October 8. “My voice was taken away from me,” the anonymous woman told the publication.
Flyers and the Pearl Venue Performance
On October 8, Greep’s performance at the Pearl was delayed by nearly two hours after an individual began handing out flyers to attendees. The flyers accused the former Black Midi frontman of rape and referenced the date of the incident. She explained that the “Geordie Greep A Rapist” flyers were distributed by “someone [she] trusted” at the show. As Stereogum reported, Greep eventually addressed the crowd during a solo set, stating that he had been at a house party the previous night and had “got the wrong end of the stick” regarding a woman’s interest. He denied the rape allegation on stage, characterizing the event as a “complete misunderstanding.” “Essentially, what happened last night, [was that] me and some of the band went out to some bars, we went out, we met people, and it ended up in a situation really late at a house party,” he said.
Laura told Paste that the flyers were distributed by a man she knew without her consent. “A man who was mad made the false claim, not the victim. I want that to be very clear,” she stated. While clarifying that she was not raped, she maintained she was subjected to sexual assault. She described waking up to find Greep kissing her while she was unable to consent, noting that she pushed him away once she became aware of the situation. During the walk, Laura says that Greep “made inappropriate comments about homeless people,” and Campbell adds that he also said off-putting things about “his opinion on race or gender or things like that,” agreeing that Greep’s words made the group uncomfortable.
Internal Fallout and Band Departure
The incident prompted immediate internal fallout within Greep’s touring party. Cameron Campbell, the musician’s keyboardist, confirmed to Paste that he and the rest of the backing band decided to quit the tour following the event. Campbell stated that the group confronted Greep after learning of the situation and the subsequent distribution of the flyers, concluding that the behavior was “completely unacceptable.” Campbell also noted that he witnessed Laura visibly shaken and crying in the aftermath of the encounter, though he and the band were not in the room when the assault occurred.
Public Apology and Tour Cancellations
In a subsequent statement posted to social media, Greep reiterated his apology, acknowledging that he leaned down to kiss the woman while she was asleep. “She told me she had been asleep, which to my great regret, I honestly did not realise,” he wrote. He accepted accountability for the distress caused, describing his actions as a “huge mistake.” “I’m not trying to minimise what happened in any way and, again, all I can say is how sorry I am,” he added.
Following the Vancouver show, Greep canceled the majority of his remaining North American tour dates. As of mid-October, a performance in Des Moines remained listed, while a European tour is slated to begin November 1 in Nijmegen, with subsequent dates planned in France, Spain, and Portugal. Greep also told the audience at the Pearl that he intended to donate the proceeds from the performance to a local anti-violence organization, though he did not specify which charity would receive the funds.
Reclaiming the Narrative
Laura told Paste that she felt her voice was taken away when the flyers were distributed and her story was made public without her permission. She stated her primary goal in speaking out was to reclaim the narrative of the event and clarify exactly what occurred.
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