Swans’ Michael Gira Issues Statement on Rape Allegations, Larkin Grimm Responds

Swans’ Michael Gira has issued an official statement regarding the allegations he raped singer-songwriter Larkin Grimm in 2008.

Gira acknowledges a “consensual romantic moment” between the two artists that “fortunately was not consummated.” He goes on to call the encounter “an awkward mistake”:

Eight years ago, while I was still married to my first wife, Larkin Grimm and I headed towards a consensual romantic moment that fortunately was not consummated. As she wrote in her recent social media postings about that night, I said to her, "this doesn't feel right," and abruptly but completely our only intimate encounter ended. It was an awkward mistake.

Larkin may regret, as I certainly do, that the ill-advised tryst went even that far, but now, as then, I hold her in high esteem for her music and her courage as an artist.

I long ago apologized to my wife and family and told them the truth about this incident. My hope is that Larkin finds peace with the demons that have been darkening her soul since long before she and I ever met.

Grimm responded to Gira’s statement, calling it an admission on the Swans leader’s part. She reaffirms the encounter was not consensual. “The fact that a man in power can throw a women’s [sic] life and work away like they are garbage, simply because she won’t sleep with him, is an immoral injustice that happens to many, many women in music,” Grimm said. Read her entire statement:

This is a perfect example of why we need to have education about consent. In a gentlemanly move he admits the act happened but cannot conceive of himself as a rapist. Thank you Michael Gira for your honesty. This is your truth as you remember it. Unfortunately, this was still rape. I said no to you many times before that day, begged you not to interfere with me sexually, even made it a part of a verbal agreement we had when I signed a contract with you. I asked you to promise that you would never have sex with me. You assured me that I could trust you. That is about as clear a NO as I could ever cry. I asked for this because I had had other experiences in my music career and I KNEW.

That night I was far too intoxicated to give you consent for any sexual act. The psychological effects of this betrayal were devastating. Even worse, when I finally confronted you about what you had done, you terminated my relationship with Young God Records, damaging my career and leading people to believe there was something wrong with me or my music.

In the end, this is about business. Art is my career. I have worked long and hard for this career, making incredible sacrifices along the way to continue to make music. The fact that a man in power can throw a women's life and work away like they are garbage, simply because she won't sleep with him, is an immoral injustice that happens to many, many women in music. I won't stand for it and neither should you.

The "Demons darkening my soul" are the men like you who interfere with my ability to do my work as a musician. This is a job I am good at. All I want is to be left in peace while I am working.

Grimm originally accused Gira of rape in a Facebook post on Thursday, claiming the alleged incident took place while the they were working on her album Parplar in 2008. Grimm says when she confronted the Swans singer, he dropped her from his Young God label. In an initial response, Gira called Grimm’s statements “a slanderous lie.”