Posies frontman Ken Stringfellow ‘taking time off’ after sexual misconduct allegations surface

On Wednesday Ken Stringfellow, of the Posies and REM, said he will be taking time away from his public life, according to a statement.

This statement comes after KUOW published an investigative story which outlined allegations made by three women that Stringfellow abused and forced himself on them.

Stringfellow “categorically” denied these allegations. He wrote:

Having consensual sexual relationships with multiple people is both messy and complicated. While I deny these specific allegations, it’s clear I am responsible for creating conditions that could lead people to be upset with me and indeed emotionally hurt by me.

First and foremost, I am a nonviolent person, and I would never intentionally harm someone. Still, I am taking personal responsibility for the harm my behavior caused these women. It was never my intention, nor was I aware of it at the time. I sincerely apologize for the impact I have had, and I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused these and other women as well as my family, friends, fans and community.

Going forward, I am taking time off to carefully examine and reflect on the impact I have had on other people. I think it’s appropriate and necessary that I take a break from public life to fully examine these issues and, ideally, repair them via therapy. I am committed to recalibrating my life with compassionate and respectful values for all people.

After the story broke on Monday, others who know Stringfellow have come forward to share their own stories, including musician Tierney Tough of the Pauses, who performed with Stringfellow.

In a statement issued on Twitter, she wrote that she “experienced a whirlwind of psychological drama and manipulation from him at a sensitive time in my life.”

The three women who accuse Stringfellow of sexual misconduct shared their stories with KUOW after they became acquainted over the summer. They said they felt compelled to share in the hopes that others may recognize signs of abuse in their own relationships.

The Posies disbanded in August, after bandmates Jon Auer and Frankie Siragusa learned of the sexual misconduct allegations.