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Holy Roar founder denies sexual assault accusations
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 10 September 2020
Holy Roar Records founder Alex Fitzpatrick has denied allegations of rape made against him earlier this week. In a statement posted on Facebook, he said that he had “immediately instructed solicitors to help me defend my name and reputation” upon learning of the accusations.
In his statement, Fitzpatrick writes: “You may have been made aware of the devastating allegations against me on social media, the most serious of which have been made by women who I dated approximately eight years ago. These allegations are false, and I am doing everything I can to clear my name. I immediately instructed solicitors to help me defend my name and reputation”.
“For legal reasons, I am advised by my solicitors, at this stage, to refrain from making further comments”, he added. “I have also resigned with immediate effect from my businesses to enable me to focus on clearing my name”.
What this means for the Holy Roar record label now is not clear. After the allegations of rape, sexual harassment and abusive behaviour were made against Fitzpatrick on social media earlier this week, the label’s three other members of staff also resigned their positions. Many of the bands signed to the label also said that they were severing ties or considering their positions with the company.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night via the official Holy Roar Twitter account, Justine Jones wrote on behalf of herself and her two colleagues at the label: “The extremely serious allegations are against everything that myself, Sam, Wil and our bands stand for. We, the label’s employees, are resigning from working with Holy Roar, effective immediately”.
Over the coming months, the label is, or was, scheduled to release new albums by Svalbard, Palm Reader and Respire. Svalbard and Respire have already said that they are severing ties with the company, while Palm Reader say they are in the process of working out how to move forward.
Fitzpatrick was also the co-owner of London craft beer retailer Ghost Whale. The company’s other director announced on Tuesday night that Fitzpatrick was no longer involved with the company.
