Rammstein Embroiled in Sexual Scandal During Germany Tour
The European leg of the Rammstein Stadium Tour has been overshadowed by allegations of sexual violence against vocalist Till Lindemann, as reported by the German publication Welt. Today, the band is set to perform four sold-out concerts at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, southern Germany.
Three more concerts are scheduled for July in Berlin. As of now, there are no plans to cancel any shows or halt the tour, pending an official investigation by the prosecutor's office. The band has hired a law firm to investigate the allegations.
German rock band Rammstein has found itself caught up in a sex scandal when fan Shelby Lynn took to social media to allege that she was drugged at a pre-concert party and that the band's vocalist, Till Lindemann, attempted to assault her.
Rammstein released a statement on Instagram in response to the accusations of sexual violence and abuse of power directed towards Till Lindemann. In their statement, the musicians urged fans to "reserve judgment" following media reports last week in Germany with testimonies from women regarding a systematic process of luring women to after-parties to satisfy Lindemann's sexual desires.
The publications of recent days have caused outrage and raised questions among the public and, in particular, among our fans," begins the post on social media. "The accusations have hit us all very hard, and we take them extremely seriously."
"We address our fans: It is important to us that you feel comfortable and safe at our concerts—both on and off stage."
"We condemn any form of assault and ask you not to participate in any bias against those who have made accusations. They have the right to their point of view."
"But we, as a band, also have the right—not to be biased."
At the center of the allegations against Rammstein vocalist Till Lindemann is Russian national Aliona Makeeva. It is claimed that as a "casting director," she organized a system of sexual violence. Following these accusations, Lindemann has terminated his assistant's employment, and she is no longer allowed near the band or their performances.
Rumors have been circulating on social media that Makeeva was seeking women at Rammstein parties for sexual encounters with Lindemann and other band members.
On June 2, German public broadcaster NDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper published a report featuring testimonies from women whose experiences mirror that described by Lynn. More than a dozen women have come forward with official statements, which have been documented by German media.