CHVRCHES have taken to social media again to say they have had to add more security during their current tour due to online threats of death and rape by fans of the singer Chris Brown. CHVRCHES singer Lauren Mayberry posted several screen shots with NSFW language that directed the threats directly at her and the band for their comments about Brown. This all comes after last week when CHVRCHES called out EDM artist Marshmello after he announced a collaboration with rapper Tyga and Brown.
Brown has had a long public history of criminal activity including assaulting his then girlfriend and fellow singer Rihanna in 2009. Brown completed his probation related to the assault in 2015. Tyga has come under fire for references to sexual relations with underage girls in his lyrics. The band stated they still appreciate and respect Marshmello but also expressed that working with these questionable artist “enables, excuses, and ultimately tacitly endorses that behavior”.
Brown himself blasted off some insulting comments in response with Mayberry brushing it off saying “Angry men on the internet can call me all the names they want. I still think domestic abuse is wrong.” Consequence of Sound has an in-depth report on the threats here.
In more recent tweets, Mayberry has clarified how the sitiation has escalated.
I am not staying in my own home when we finish tour because the threats we have received have reached such a scale. We have to have the police at our shows now. If that’s what I deserve for saying mainstream music should be more morally conscious, then so be it. You’re right.
— Lauren Mayberry (@laurenevemay) April 29, 2019
And again, it is not you who is having to have police presence at shows and advance security in their actual own real life outside of a band persona.
— Lauren Mayberry (@laurenevemay) April 29, 2019
Mayberry continued to stand her ground recently on stage this past weekend in a video captured by TMZ. CHVRCHES perform at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on May 2nd.
If you or anyone is affected by domestic violence, you can always reach out to the National Domestic Crisis Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). All calls are free and confidential. The calls are available in multiple languages as well.
