Photo: Wenn
Conor Oberst has discussed being falsely accused of rape in 2013, describing the experience as both 'very surreal' and 'very painful'.
Following a post on XOJane in December 2013 in which Joanie Faircloth alleged "I was raped by a rock star myself", Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst was exonerated last year when Faircloth admitted her claims were "100% false". Now Oberst has discussed the traumatic event on Marc Maron's WTF podcast.
Speaking about what Maron described as "that bullshit you had to deal with with that crazy girl", Oberst reveals how the experience has caused him to question the justice system.
"I want to put it in perspective because I think about all the many African-American men who are in prisons right now for crimes they didn't commit, and for actual victims of sexual assault that it has done the greatest disservice to," Oberst said. "They say one out of four women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. That's staggering and fucking horrible."
Following a $1m defamation lawsuit, in June 2014 Faircloth issued a statement completing exhonerating Oberst from any wrongdoing.
“The statements I made and repeated online and elsewhere over the past six months accusing Conor Oberst of raping me are 100% false," she said. "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 released his latest album, Upside Down Mountain last year and is set to play the Governor's Ball in New York in June.
