Max Bemis has called off a run of solo shows. A statement posted to the Say Anything Instagram account over the weekend said the performances were postponed while the musician takes time away to focus on his health, and cited the need to prioritise mental health and personal wellbeing.
The statement arrived after a post on the r/SayAnything forum late last week. A 17 year old, who said her name is also Max and used the name Maxine for clarity, published screenshots and a written account of what she described as months of contact with Bemis by direct message and text.
She said he added her on two Instagram accounts and that they began talking in March. Her account describes reactions to photographs she posted, conversation about sex toys, and encouragement to write a poem on a sexual subject. She also said she is a trafficking victim and that Bemis knew this. "Even if Max hadn't said anything dodgy or sexual to me ever, a 40+ year old man shouldn't be talking to a 17 year old," she wrote, adding that she had engaged with some of the behaviour herself.
None of this has been tested anywhere. The claims are allegations, Bemis has not responded to them publicly, and neither outlet covering the story describes any legal proceeding. The comments on the band's Instagram post were left open, and filled with people questioning why the cancellation was framed around health.
Part of why the story travelled is Bemis's own record on the subject. He has spoken out against this kind of conduct among his pop punk contemporaries, and the gap between that and the accusations is what the forum thread kept returning to.
Bemis announced a separation from his wife and fellow musician Sherri DuPree last year after 16 years of marriage and five children. Say Anything are due to release Cherry Soda, a collaborative album with Wavves, next month through I Surrender Records, and nothing has been said about whether that schedule holds.
Cancellations attributed to health have become common enough in rock touring that the phrase carries less information than it used to, from Alfie Templeman postponing shows to get help to Jason Isbell dropping dates with no explanation at all. Live dates we track are on the tour guide.
The facts
- Max Bemis cancelled a run of solo concerts
- A statement on Say Anything's Instagram cited mental health and personal wellbeing
- A 17 year old posted screenshots and an account of months of contact on Reddit
- She said the exchanges began in March
- The claims are allegations and Bemis has not responded publicly
- Say Anything's collaborative album with Wavves, Cherry Soda, is due next month
How this checks out
Developing
Reported by 2 independent outlets
A few outlets have it so far, short of the bar we set for confirmed.
Cited sources 2
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