After a sexual harassment allegation against singer songwriter Jake McElfresh (Front Porch Step), he was promptly removed from the scheduled line-up of Warped Tour 2015, but at today’s Nashville date, our contributor Chris Hampton came across the following confusing schedule post:
Below are the opening remarks and live footage
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
UPDATE: Since this incident this story and these videos have gone viral. One of the major casualties of the information age is privacy. Tweets that I have made have been published in Alternative Press, which has led people to find my private information. I have received some words of encouragement; however, by and large, the responses and comments I have received in private, anonymous comments have been vicious attacks on my own character–to the point that my job has been threatened. I have no personal issue with Kevin Lyman or Danielle, who I was in touch with most of the day. Kevin did an amazing job making sure that all attendees were made safe in the inclement weather that day. I made it clear that my intention was not to defame anyone or any organization, just to report what I saw. The response has been incredible and I’m very proud that some of my close friends and other artists on this tour have come out on the side of justice and equality.
It should be known that I do not condone, in anyway, what happened on Wednesday. My primary opinion of Kevin’s statement regarding this incident is that I have never known any licensed therapist or counselor to permit or advise that client be near the very people they endanger as part of their treatment. While attendees may not have been in physical harm, it is Kevin’s responsibility to provide a safe environment, both mentally and physically, for his patrons. Additionally, his downplay of security presence at the Acoustic Basement is an outright lie. I counted, at one point, 7 security guards. I have never stood to gain anything from my small part of this story. Since this day I have taken the time to reflect and I have had to call my involvement with the Vans Warped Tour and those involved in the funding of said tour into question. I encourage everyone to think critically in the same way and let this affect your decisions on who you support in this scene, what products you buy, and what ideas you engender with your time, effort, and money.
– Chris Hampton
