Following multiple accusations of sexual abuse against Till Lindemann , which resulted in an investigation being opened against the singer in Germany , the Rammstein spoke out on social media.
In a lengthy statement posted on social media, Christoph Schneider said he does not believe any crimes were committed during the Till festivities, but stated that some reported situations are inappropriate.
“No, I don’t believe anything illegal happened, I never observed anything like that and I never heard anything from our group of one hundred people either. All I witnessed at Till’s parties was adults having fun together. However, apparently, things happened that, while legally acceptable, I personally consider inappropriate,” he wrote. “Certain structures formed that exceeded the limits and values of the rest of the band members.”
In the statement, Schneider asserted that Rammstein's after-show parties are not the same as Till Lindemann's, where the alleged abuses took place. “It’s important that Till’s parties not be confused with our official after-show parties. Till has distanced himself from us in recent years and created his own bubble. With his own people, parties, and projects. This saddened me, for sure. I believe Till when he tells us that he always wanted to provide a good time for his private guests. However, it seems that the expectations of the women who have now come forward differ, in some cases, from his own expectations. They claim they felt uncomfortable, on the verge of a situation they couldn’t control. I feel sorry for them and I empathize with them,” the musician continued.
According to Christoph, Rammstein parties have security and medical assistance available, as well as a policy of receiving sealed drinks and opening the bottles in front of the guests, who are free to leave whenever they want.
The drummer specifically mentioned Shelby Lynn, the fan who accused Till of abuse in Lithuania. “I feel sorry for everyone who wasn’t treated kindly backstage or felt unsafe. I also feel sorry for Shelby; she deserved a great show and a wonderful night,” he stated.
Finally, the drummer called for a moderate discourse between the band, public opinion, and fans, without going to the extremes of the "beast of social media" or "victim blaming": "I wish for reflection and a calm and thoughtful approach, also within our band. And that includes all six members. We are in this together," he concluded.
A few days after the statement was published, Christoph was criticized by fans for posting a photo of himself holding hands with Lindemann and the caption "We're in this together."
What are the abuse allegations against Till Lindemann?
The Rammstein vocalist is accused by several women of inappropriate conduct and sexual abuse at parties held with fans after concerts. The first complaint to gain international attention was from Shelby Lynn, publicly disclosed on social media. According to her account, she was allegedly invited to Till Lindemann's after-party following the band's show, where she noticed the presence of only young women and alcoholic beverages.
Subsequently, the fan was allegedly invited to a personal meeting with Till in the expectation of a sexual encounter, but upon Shelby's refusal, the vocalist supposedly adopted aggressive behavior.
Following Lynn's complaint, several other accounts emerged from women denouncing similar behavior at other parties, many of which were sent to Shelby Linn herself and shared on her social media, while others were posted in the comments on the band's own page.
On June 14, the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation against Till Lindemann to look into allegations of sexual harassment. Furthermore, German authorities stated that the parties Rammstein usually holds after their shows have been cancelled during the band's stay in the city.
Meanwhile, Rammstein continues touring Europe, having passed through Germany, Slovakia and Switzerland throughout June, with their most recent show taking place on the 18th (Sunday).
Rammstein's statement regarding the accusations.
In early June, Rammstein addressed the accusations against Till Lindemann on social media. In a statement, the band said that these "accusations have deeply affected us and we take them extremely seriously," stating that the group "condemns any form of invasive behavior."
“To our fans, we want to say: It’s important to us that you feel comfortable and safe at our shows – both in front of and behind the stage. (…) We ask you: Do not engage in public prejudgments of any kind against those who made the accusations. They have the right to express their point of view. However, as a band, we also have a right – the right not to be prejudged,” they said.
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