Rammstein comments on allegations against Till Lindemann
The allegations are taken extremely seriously, the band said about reports of alleged sexual assault. At the same time, she warns against "prejudgements".
The band Rammstein has responded to allegations of alleged sexual abuse and possible abuse of power by their singer Till Lindemann. The publications of the past few days have “created irritation and questions in public and especially among our fans,” says a statement on Instagram.
The allegations are taken “extremely seriously”, fans should feel safe “in front of and behind the stage”, it said. The group also asked its followers not to engage in “public prejudice of any kind” against those who have made allegations. “You have a right to your point of view.” But the band also has a right not to be prejudiced.
According to reports, several women had made allegations against Lindemann in the past few days. As the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) and NDR reported, young women may have been specifically recruited to have sex with Lindemann. Two women also report sexual acts that they would not have consented to. In a first statement on the allegations, the band announced on Twitter on Monday that they could rule out “that what is claimed happened in our environment”.
Publisher ends collaboration
The women spoke anonymously in front of the camera and assured their statements to NDR and SZ on oath. According to the media, there are further statements from witnesses and chat logs that underline these allegations. Questions from NDR and SZ about specific allegations left both Lindemann and the band unanswered.
The publishing house Kiepenheuer & Witsch already ended the cooperation with Lindemann on Friday. “In the course of the current reporting” we became aware of a video in which the 2013 book published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch is said to play a role. Lindemann had exceeded the limits in dealing with women, the publisher said. This is considered a “gross breach of trust and a ruthless act” in relation to the values represented by the publisher.
The video was released in 2020. In the same year, Kiepenheuer & Witsch defended a Lindemann poem about sex with a knockout-drop incapacitated you, citing its fictionality.
