Alice Glass, former singer for Crystal Castles, released a detailed, highly graphic statement yesterday claiming the ex-bandmate Ethan Kath (real name: Claudio Palmieri) abused her since the age of 15.
Glass, who left Crystal Castles in October 2014 and was replaced by new vocalist Edith Frances, joins a cavalcade of women who have leveled claims of misconduct against other actors, producers, directors, photographers and musicians.
According to Glass, Kath “was very manipulative towards me. He figured out my insecurities and exploited them: he used the things he learned about me against me. Over a period of many months, he gave me drugs and alcohol and had sex with me in an abandoned room at an apartment he managed. It wasn’t always consensual and he remained sober whenever we were together.”
Glass alleges that Kath controlled everything she did and forced her to have sex with him. “I wasn’t allowed to have my own phone or my own credit card, he decided who my friends were, read through my private emails, restricted my access to social media, regulated everything I ate. He berated me and yelled at me, telling me that I was a joke, that all the people that came to our shows were only interested in his instrumentals and that I was ruining the band. He broke glass shower doors to frighten me, he locked me into rooms. He told me that my feminism made me a target for rapists and only he could protect me. He forced me to have sex with him or, he said, I wouldn’t be allowed to be in the band anymore.”
Kath has denied Glass’ allegations in a statement issued to Pitchfork via his attorney: “I am outraged and hurt by the recent statements made by Alice about me and our prior relationship. Her story is pure fiction and I am consulting my lawyers as to my legal options. Fortunately, there are many witnesses who can and will confirm that I was never abusive to Alice.”
In the wake of the allegations, Crystal Castles have cancelled the remaining dates on their current tour.