Neutral Milk Hotel’s Julian Koster has been accused of grooming and sexual assault by a former partner. The longtime Elephant 6 musician has strongly denied these claims, stating that he is the victim of a campaign of “intimidation, manipulation, and abuse.”
The accusations against Koster were made public in a statement released by his former partner, who has chosen to remain anonymous. In the statement, she alleges that Koster groomed her when she was a teenager and that their relationship turned physically and emotionally abusive.
Koster has responded to these allegations with a statement of his own, denying any wrongdoing and claiming that he has been the victim of a targeted attack. He states that the accusations are false and that he has never engaged in any non-consensual or abusive behavior.
The statement from Koster reads, “I am deeply saddened and disturbed by these false accusations against me. I have never engaged in any non-consensual or abusive behavior, and I categorically deny these allegations. I believe that these claims are part of a larger campaign to intimidate, manipulate, and abuse me.”
Koster also acknowledges that he did have a relationship with the accuser when she was a teenager, but he maintains that it was consensual and that he never took advantage of her. He also states that their relationship ended mutually and that he has not had any contact with her since.
The accusations against Koster have sparked a conversation within the music community, with many fans and fellow musicians expressing their support for the accuser and calling for accountability. Koster’s former bandmate, Jeff Mangum, has also released a statement in support of the accuser and condemning any form of abuse.
In response to the allegations, Koster has announced that he will be taking a step back from his music career to focus on addressing these accusations and clearing his name. He states, “I am taking these allegations seriously and will be seeking legal counsel to address them. In the meantime, I will be stepping back from my music career to focus on addressing these accusations and clearing my name.”
The music industry has been rocked by numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse in recent years, and it is important for these issues to be addressed and for victims to be heard. We urge anyone who has experienced or witnessed any form of abuse to come forward and seek support.
