Sexual Harassment in the Music Industry

A couple of weeks ago I was scrolling through different social media sites when I stumbled upon something that was very shocking to me. I read the one of the members of one of my favorite bands had been accused of and admitted to sexually harassing an underage girl nearly 10 years ago. I was upset and couldn't figure out what I should do upon hearing this information. Was I supposed to stop supporting the band? Could I still listen to their music? This is an argument that I'd been having with myself since finding out the news, but then I read Gay's essay entitled "Dear Young Ladies Who Love Chris Brown So Much They Would Let Him Beat Them". What stuck out the most to me was when Gay said, "His brilliance cannot be overlooked. That's what I tell myself, but then I imagine all the hurt he caused and how rarely that hurt is discussed. That may be the saddest thing of all." This helped me realize that by continuing to support the band or by listening to their music I would be undermining the hurt the victim faced by this man and ignoring the courage that she had to come forward in a world that is so quick to blame the victim. The art and the artist cannot be separated and by supporting one you are supporting the other. This is an important lesson that in light of recent events must be understood and followed by all of those around otherwise we continue to let abusers get away with their crimes.

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