“Why Jesse Lacey and Brand New Should Not Be Touring” • Page 2

This is gross to read. I don’t think people understand how easy it is to “groom” or “manipulate” young people. Hell, it’s not all that difficult to manipulate adults either. But doing it for your own sexual gratification is sickening.

Occasionally I work in Hollywood and I’ve Watched how it’s so easy to get people naked even if they don’t want to be. You can get them doing whatever you want because of the power dynamic. And these are adults. Same goes for theatre people. I’ve seen and heard so many stories. Heck, this 30 year old virgin girl has been naked so many times in front of people that she didn’t even see anything wrong with it until I mentioned to her that it truly didn’t need to be that way.

with all this said, Jesse and others like him need help. And honestly they shouldn’t want to tour. They should realize they did horrible things and got off lightly and should choose to “suffer” as atonement if nobody else is punishing them for crimes committed. Obviously they don’t feel bad enough for their crimes.

 

Agh. Thank you for sharing your story, and fuuuck these scumbags.

 

First of im not saying this to brag although some will see it that way. I grew up in that scene while all these bands were developing into what they became. We all knew Jesse was a scumbag then. I, however, never saw this particular behavior first hand. Looking back at those days, seeing great bands like otmop, and tbs and the like play backyards and bingo halls developing their craft, I can tell you first hand that long island scene, my friends in those bands, were about the fans. Always. Jesse was always about Jesse. He's a narcissistic person who craves adoration and he used it to manipulate young girls. The fact that tickets for this tour are upwards of 250 dollars and almost sold out everywhere sickens me. Its a cash grab at the very best, and everyone involved should be ashamed, including his band mates of whom I've lost all respect.

 

I hope he truly has changed. But even if he took full responsibility and accountability, I still wouldn't give Brand New any of my money. They probably got enough of everyone's money when all this wasn't public knowledge. No need to give them any more of it.

 

Just a heads up that I am banning and removing posts in here from anyone harassing the author, but I am also only one mod and have a newborn, so if someone else does post some shit like that in here, please just report the post and avoid engaging with them.

 

These accounts are always so heartbreaking to read. I remember being the same age at the same time and I really thought my favorite bands, these bands in our scene, were different. I knew about bands like motley Crue and what not that were known for the whole sex, drugs and rock and roll thing. I was naive enough to believe that that was not happening in our scene because frankly they often presented themselves as sort of a counter to that image. Like The Lovable self-loathing nerd who never gets the girl. I don't know that at that age it would have occurred to me that someone in my favorite band had any sort of other motive besides wanting to hang out with me. You know because I was so mature and deep for my age or so I thought

Part of me does hope that more artists speak out against brand new and honestly part of me is cynical and feels like many wont because if they were not doing the exact same thing then they are likely still friends with those who were, and don't want those skeletons to come out of the closet

I admire all of the women who have spoken out and also those who haven't, because you are just as strong and brave as those who've spoken out.

And to Jesse and all of his self-loathing lyrics: Babes, maybe you felt that way for a reason and the call was coming from inside the house

 

I like that idea, except it still involves buying a ticket and therefore providing money to the guy and the band.

 

Edit: was deleted

 

Oh brother

 

This goes double if you comment clearly without having even read the piece.

mods can tell good faith from trolling and we don’t have any need for trolls or bad faith in this thread

 

Please don't engage, they're getting booted and quoting them only keeps their posts in a thread that the author is following.

 

Imagine finding this thread to be antagonistic about it. Brand new fans have a brain disease dawg

 

This is really sad and I hope anyone seeing it for anything else gains some perspective. Thinking of my daughter in this situation gives me actual stomach pain.
I do wonder if this is a bad apple situation or if there’s some aspect of power/fame corruption. Sure, there are cases we can point to of famous dudes that have no allegations against them but this is far too common to remain optimistic. It’s all so sad.

 

I work with teens a lot and something I always emphasize with them is that 1). Adults don't need your help. Don't let them guilt you into going with them or doing what they want. If they truly need help they'll find an adult. And 2). Adults don't need to befriend children. I know teens I think are amazing and will go places some day. I know teens that are enjoyable to be around, and I feel like I can relate to them as a former teen as almost a mentor type role. But do I just like... Hang out with teens for the fun of it? Um no. I literally have no reason to do that. There just isn't a reason.

But bottom line is even with informing kids that this isnt okay, it's on the adults to protect them. I had all the thinking errors when I was a teen. I thought I was mature and smart and different, not someone susceptible to grooming. I was naive and reliant on adults to behave as safe adults and ensure I was safe. The scene failed to protect these girls.

 

People can draw their own lines on this band where their personal morality leads them and I won’t judge them for that, but reading this account (and seeing the photos) literally made my skin crawl all over again.

There have been plenty of artists and musicians in the past who have done awful things and I’ve been able to overlook it to an extent so that makes me a hypocrite, but there’s something about all this that just feels so close, maybe it’s the insularity of the scene, maybe it’s the appeal of this style of music specifically to young adolescents, that makes it feel particularly disgusting and violating in a way that can’t be countenanced. I personally could never get past the discomfort I feel now when thinking of this band.

 

Please take care of your mental health, Jason. I know this is a topic that's very close to your heart, and one that you hadn't intended to engage with at all.

Also, it's really fucking sad that people would troll on a post like this or harass the author. While my original comment was shrouded in the negative thought that this was "just another story" and it wouldn't move the needle, those pictures seemed to really drive the point home for people here and on r/poppunkers (I haven't checked other places). I appreciate aiyana91's courage and willingness to share her story and deal with the bullshit that comes from the Brand New fanatics.

 

I must be looking at the wrong post on r/poppunkers

 

I'm sure it's the same one. 80% of the comments in there are people against Brand New. And a number of them are noting that the tone of comeback comments on r/poppunkers has completely changed in that post vs. the previous ones. Which is a good thing. Fuck this man, and fuck this band.

 

Ya know when the allegations came out the change in lyrical tone from YFW to Deja to Devil really started to make sense to me. Super disappointing that the folks most excited (according to my IG friends) about this tour are women.

 

I don't have anything new to add that anyone else hasn't said. My personal belief is that everyone essentially has to decide for themselves if this is a show/tour/band they want to support. I just....can't do it. The whole vibe of this tour has a dark cloud over it for obvious reasons and going to an arena to try to have a communal experience just does NOT seem doable. It also boggles my mind that many people my age who now have young kids are just completely willing to overlook this because they want to go shout along to angry lyrics that make them think of college or whatever. Just....gross.

 

I agree. I just wish people would quit trying to act like he's a standup guy. If you're separating the art from the artist, have at it. No one can stop you. But don't try to justify or downplay Jesse's disgusting behavior because you want to reconnect with your youth.

I would compare this to Chris Brown, except the victim in Brown's case actually forgave him (which I will never understand). So his fans can at least point to that. Jesse's victims aren't forgiving him or accepting his bullshit blanket apology.

Just to be clear, I'm not comparing their two violations directly. That's not the point. I'm just comparing impact on victims and replies. Both are shitstains of human beings that I'm sad are still able to do arena tours.

 

As someone pointed out in a Reddit thread at some point, when these allegations came out in 2017 literally NO ONE publicly came out in support of Jesse's character. Not his bandmates, not his friends, not his lable/management, not one person. Coupled with years of chatter about how much the band doesn't get along, Jesse banging his cousin's fiance which is why they cancelled a bunch of dates in 2013, I can't imagine any reason anyone from this whole organization would want to get back together aside from money.

 

Money is a helluva drug. I'd like to think my morality would win out if I were one of the bandmates, but if they've got families to support and are looking at a massive payday, I can see why they would suck it up and go out there. But that tour bus has to be awkward as hell.

 

Indy Powers, thankfully out of the biz