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Conor Oberst accepts rape claim apology

“This has been extremely difficult”, admits the singer-songwriter in a statement.

Photo: Emma Swann

16th July 2014

Conor Oberst has issued a statement accepting an apology from the woman who wrongly accused the singer-songwriter of rape.

Yesterday, Joanie Faircloth issued a statement, following a seven-month hunt by Oberst’s representatives to find her, after she named the Bright Eyes frontman in a comment on feminist website xoJane, accusing him of rape a decade earlier. While the comments themselves were removed shortly after posting, they remain easily found.

“The statements I made and repeated online and elsewhere over the past six months accusing Conor Oberst of raping me are 100% false,” Faircloth said in a statement issued to Buzzfeed. “I made up those lies about him to get attention while I was going through a difficult period in my life and trying to cope with my son’s illness. I publicly retract my statements about Conor Oberst, and sincerely apologize to him, his family, and his fans for writing such awful things about him. I realize that my actions were wrong and could undermine the claims of actual sexual assault victims and for that I also apologize. I’m truly sorry for all the pain that I caused.”

Oberst had sued Faircloth back in February citing a loss of earnings linked to the “despicable, false, outrageous, and defamatory statements”.

Now today, Oberst’s representatives have issued a statement accepting Faircloth’s apology, as Pitchfork reports.

“I have accepted Joanie Faircloth’s apology and retraction to clear my name,” he says. “This has been extremely difficult and stressful for me personally and for those I love. I’m appreciative of the family, friends, fans, and business partners who supported me throughout this and look forward to happier times as we all move forward with our lives.”

Conor Oberst plays KOKO in London on Friday (18th July), before the BBC 6 Music stage at Latitude on Saturday afternoon (19th), Dublin with Massive Attack on Sunday in Dublin (20th), and Glasgow’s O2 ABC on Monday (21st).

His latest solo album, ‘Upside Down Mountain’, was released back in May.

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