Mia DeRouchey | Writer
October 14, 2022
Widely adored singer, Rex Orange County, whose real name is Alexander O’Connor, has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman on six different occasions while in London. The alternative/indie artist has a largely adolescent fanbase, with more than 21 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His newest album, WHO CARES? was released on March 11th, 2022, and the 24-year-old had been planning to go on tour when these allegations were released.
O’Connor was tried at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, October 10th. He pleaded not guilty to all six charges and was released on bail. He will appear again in court on January 3, 2023. The alleged victim claims Alexander O’Connor assaulted her twice on the street in London, once in a taxi, and three additional times in his own home in Notting Hill.
Many former fans of Rex Orange County have been deeply shocked and disappointed by this allegation. Senior Dane Matson, who has been listening to the singer since he released his first album, said, “[h]e’s just a scumbag. I can’t believe [the allegations], it’s just disgusting.” Many people share this view, but other students are choosing to wait until more details on the case are released before they form opinions. Given how widely followed the young artist is, it would not be uncommon for rumors and scandals involving O’Connor to surface with no real backing. Senior Tom Hardy said, “I feel like both sides of the story need to be looked at.”
Regardless of the fame of the perpetrator, sexual assault is not to be taken lightly, and thankfully these allegations are being taken seriously by everybody involved. Many of Rex Orange County’s followers have been very vocal about their opinion of the situation and their boycott of the 24-year-old’s music. The situation has overtaken the popular video platform Tiktok, and one short clip explaining the timeline of these allegations has over 1.8 million views. Longtime listener Dane Matson remarked, “I thought he was a good guy, he made great music, but I’m over him.” Even if the court rules not guilty in January, will Rex Orange County be able to come back from this?
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