Hookworms disband as frontman Matthew Johnson denies sexual abuse allegations
Hookworms, the psychedelic rock quintet from Leeds, UK, have officially announced that the band is splitting up following allegations of sexual and mental abuse made against the band’s frontman Matthew "MJ" Johnson, Pitchfork reports. The Leeds-based group posted a statement on their Twitter account which announced all upcoming shows had been cancelled and they "can no longer continue as a band".
Johnson has since issued a statement denying all allegations. He posted a statement to Twitter stating: “I deny, and always will deny, the allegations that were posted yesterday.”
“We’re deeply shocked by the allegations that came to light yesterday regarding MJ, and take them very seriously,” Hookworms wrote in a statement posted to their Twitter. 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.” Read the full statement below.