Last night during Tigers Jaw‘s headlining performance in NYC, a fan jumped on stage and attempted to kiss band member Brianna Collins. This event came after a fan did the exact same thing during the opener’s (Pity Sex) set. Now Collins has released a statement regarding these events. It’s incredibly disturbing that someone could have this sense of entitlement to begin with, and Collins shouldn’t even have to make a statement, but since the human race is full of disappointments it is worth repeating: do not touch someone without their consent. Here’s her full statement:
Last night at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, someone came on stage and very forcibly tried to kiss me, and actually did kiss Britty [Drake, of Pity Sex] while she was playing. Another person from the tour was kissed while taking a photo… This tour is the first time something like this has happened to me, and I definitely feel responsible to say something.
IT IS NEVER OKAY TO TOUCH SOMEONE WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. Ever. I felt so upset and violated, as did the others who this happened to.. Touching someone without their consent is not only upsetting for that person, but is also a crime. We all need to respect each other’s space — whether it’s someone in the band or someone crowd surfing. I just want to play music with my friends and I shouldn’t have to be worried whether or not every person stage diving is going to do something like that. I don’t want it to come down to having to say that there’s no stage diving allowed at our shows, but if stuff like this keeps happening and I feel unsafe and uncomfortable when we play, I don’t know any other solution.
So please – DO NOT EVER touch/kiss/grab someone that has not given you consent to do so. You are not entitled to that no matter what the situation is. Be a decent human being and keep your hands to yourself.
– Brianna
Add Tigers Jaw to My Radar
Yep.
Melanie Hebert
Agreed. And Brianna is gorgeous too. Wife-material
Double yep.
I know we all get confused now then, but it’s helpful to keep in mind that EVEN IF someone is a performer, and EVEN IF they’re performing, you’re STILL not allowed to sexually assault them. I know I know, crazy concept, but try to follow.
Battery
RT @DyingScene: Brianna Collins (Tigers Jaw): “It Is Never Okay to Touch Someone Without Their Consent”: http://t.co/sybCUjiytB
A public statement over one stupid fan stealing kisses? Tigers Jaw must be bored.
RT @DyingScene: Brianna Collins (Tigers Jaw): “It Is Never Okay to Touch Someone Without Their Consent”: http://t.co/sybCUjiytB
When you are that hot are you not asking to be touched?
lol all you people act like whoever did this grabbed her tits and tried to forcibly fuck her on stage, its a kiss for gods sake…. I wasn’t there but personally i think music that is “raw and emotional” or so they say should have shows that are just the same. I remember going to shows and it was ok to go up on stage and kiss someone who truly inspired you to either play music or become an avid listener. When did the raw energy and unpredictability at shows cease to exist? Has this and many other styles of music become too tame, too corporate, too SAFE? Who knows? I wasn’t there so the dude could’ve been a a complete asshole, but ultimately the media and pages like this distort views and only post biased opinions. I was just as upset about the Steve Klein post from this page calling him a scumbag. People need to stop looking at others in a bad light and step in their shoes even if only for a few minutes. Once again I’m not advocating sexual assault by any means but most people don’t look at the opposite end of the spectrum. When did a simple kiss turn into accusations of assault and battery?
P.S. watch some GG Allin concert tapes and you’ll get a REAL idea of what assault and battery at shows is all about.
It’s only accidental in the crowd because people are packed so closely. When is the last time that happened to you in an airport or a train station. There are all sorts of crowds where people are not physically contacting each other. If I didn’t like being touched, but wanted to get close to the stage, should I chastise others for not respective my personal space? Should others have to ask my consent to touch me?
My point is that talking in absolutes leads to contradictions. Sometimes it is ok to touch someone without consent. Sometimes people put themselves in situations where consent is implied (like in the crowd at a concert). Since everyone has a different level of implied consent, there are likely to be misunderstandings.
I’m sure the fans didn’t mean to make the musician uncomfortable (I’m assuming, but we should at least give the benefit of doubt). If the musician doesn’t like this, if she is sensitive to uninitiated crowd interaction, she should say something without preaching moral absolutes. It’s sloppy thinking, and it leads to logical inconsistencies, which tend to be more dangerous than kissing people.
No.
Any non-consensual touching is assault.
You’ve really missed the point if you’re taking a request not to attempt non-consensual sexual acts with incidentally brushing or bumping someone in a crowd.