Sigur Ros drummer Accused of Sexual Assault, Leaves Band.
“In the wake of the extremely serious and personal allegations made against [Orri Páll Dýrason] in recent days, we have today accepted the resignation of our bandmate”
Sigur Rós drummer Orri Páll Dýrason has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Los Angeles in 2013. In response, he has left the band, according to a post on their Facebook page Monday morning (October 1). “In the wake of the extremely serious and personal allegations made against him in recent days,” band members Jónsi and Georg Hólm wrote, “we have today accepted the resignation of our bandmate Orri Páll Dýrason to allow him to deal with this privately.” Pitchfork has contacted Sigur Rós’ representatives for further comment.
The allegations emerged last week, when Los Angeles-based artist Meagan Boyd wrote on Instagram:
“I was drunk, and I had met him at a club (I had a brief period in which I was a dancer at a club called ‘the body shop’), I also engaged in a kiss with him before falling asleep in the same bed, after that I completely knocked out. I woke up with the feeling of being penetrated without my consent during a deep slumber…. It happened twice that night, and I wondered [to] myself why I didn’t leave after the first time—but I was drunk, dead tired, in shock, and this was right before I ever heard of anything like Uber/Lyft…. But none of that should matter because no one deserves to be raped/touched/licked/fucked without CONSENT.”
In a separate Instagram post from last week, which has since been deleted, Boyd shared an alleged email conversation between herself and Dýrason, in which he disputed her recollection of the night in question. “I cannot understand why you would want to publicly accuse me of something I did not do,” he allegedly said. Later, he allegedly added, “I am so sorry you are going through all this. But my experience from that night is completely different from yours.”
“We had a nice night drawing and drinking at my flat; and then we went to bed. The next day you even wanted to stay and asked me if you could, but I had to go to the studio and you got upset about that. We had a good time together. I like your art and I think you are a talented artist and I enjoyed being with you.”
Boyd responded, “I was not mad you had to leave at all! I was mad that I woke up to a fucking dick inside me without consent! You acted like you didn’t know why I was upset. I screamed at you telling you, ‘You don’t fuck people who are asleep!’ You asked me to stay and for my number and even invited me to go to the studio. I cried for the whole way home and after. I had trauma for months and for years have not been able to forget how awful you made me feel and how used and taken advantage of.”
Boyd said to Dýrason, “You are gaslighting me. Just fucking admit what you did.”
In a post on his personal Facebook page this morning, Orri wrote:
I begin with thanking my friends and relatives for the support you have shown. It is good for me feel for your trust, despite the serious public allegations against me.
This matter has undeniably taken its toll on me for the past few days. Justifiably, some will say, and I do not intend to argue with those people. However, I sincerely ask the same people to steer their anger into the right path and abstain from dragging my family, and especially my wife, into this matter. At the same time, I ask people to stay calm and not to be divided into two battling armies, these are not court proceedings, just Meagan’s words against mine, on the internet. Loud and provocative words are in nobody’s favour—neither to me or her.
In light of the scale of this matter, I have decided to leave Sigur Rós. That is a difficult decision for me, but I cannot have these serious allegations influence the band and the important and beautiful work that has been done there for the last years. A job that is so dear to me.
I will do anything in my power to get myself out of this nightmare, but out of respect for those actually suffering from sexual violence, I will not take that fight public.
