Hookworms announce split following abuse allegations against frontman Matthew Johnson

Hookworms have announced their split in the wake of abuse allegations levelled at frontman Matthew Johnson, known as MJ.

A statement was posted on Tuesday (30th October) by Alanna McArdle, ex-vocalist of Joanna Gruesome, who previously dated MJ, detailing the allegations on behalf of a woman named as L. You can read the statement in full below.

“We’re deeply shocked by the allegations that came to light yesterday regarding MJ, and take them very seriously,” the band responded in a note posted on their Twitter account. “As a result we have cancelled all upcoming Hookworms shows and can no longer continue as a band.”

According to the note, “other members of Hookworms, their collaborators, various agents, and record labels had no prior knowledge of the allegation before it went public yesterday, and are still coming to terms with the news.”

MJ has now responded to the allegations, writing: “To be clear, I deny, and will always deny, the allegations that were posted yesterday,” and calls the accusations made by L “untrue”.

View the statements below.