Michael Gira, the frontman of Swans, has been accused of sexual assault by fellow musician Larkin Grimm.

Grimm collaborated with Gira on her 2008 album Parplar. Gira served as producer and also released the album through his own Young God Records.



In a detailed account posted to Facebook (which you can read below), Grimm alleges that Gira made several unwanted advances throughout the album’s recording process. In one particular incident, she says she fell asleep drunk and woke up to find Gira having non-consensual sex with her.

Grimm says when she finally confronted Gira about the incident, she was dropped from Young God Records.

“Many people have assumed, over the years, that Michael and I had a love affair, and in a way, for a time, maybe we did,” Grimm writes. ” But I never consented to having sex with him. I wouldn’t have wanted to ruin such an important opportunity that way. Technically, he raped me. It took me a long time to admit that to myself. Years. Michael Gira, my producer, raped me and dumped me from his label when I confronted him about it, needing to feel safe.”

Sending my love to ‪#‎Kesha‬ I know how you feel,” Grimm added. “At least I got out of my record deal, though I was never offered another one after that.”

A representative for Gira did not respond to our request for comment at the time of publication.

Update – Friday, February 26th at 6:55 a.m. CT: Gira has denied Grimm’s allegations. He’s also shared a supporting statement from his wife, Jennifer, who questions Grimm’s mental health and says she has “proof” that disputes Grimm’s story.

Update – Friday, February 26th at 10:15 a.m. CT: Grimm has posted a second message in which she writes, “I am not going to defend myself against blind dogs with deaf ears.”