According to Oh No You Didn’t, Sludge-pop/black surf band Vomitface from New York, have released statements claiming that bassist and drummer from the band were attacked at the recent Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal, BC.
The band released several tweets earlier today stating vicious assaults they’ve endured by festival security at Osheaga ’16, claiming security has beaten them up and that their female drummer Preetma has had her earrings ripped out.
Vice reports that according to drummer Preetma Singh, she was assaulted by festival security after fellow bandmate, and boyfriend, Jared Micah forgot to swipe his pass at the VIP checkpoint, suddenly the next thing they know if that Jared had been thrown down the stairs, and as Singh went to help her boyfriend she got put in a headlock chokehold, causing her to black out. She woke up to find her earrings ripped out and sunglasses gone, lying there in terror, but what was more terrifying was how the festival managed this unprovoked assault. Singh reported “I called 911, and police that were stationed at the festival came even though we requested a more objective party from without,” she says. “Then those cops refused to make a report. They just threatened to arrest us. We were literally chased off the island. I remember being so scared trying to find our way out of that hell. Meanwhile the security guard was immediately whisked away and protected. No one at all even let us speak. I have bruises all over my arms, my neck is still sore and my voice is hoarse. No one has been in contact with us since to address the issue let alone apologize.”‘
The band tweeted, and continues to tweet, the entire situation, and how the festival has still not done anything to make up for this horrible event. Hopefully the festival responds to the situation and make amends for the huge error.
tried to complain to official management of festival and told to shut up and get out.
— Vomitface (@vomitfaceband) August 1, 2016
wow oceaga festival of montreal. during such a beautiful performance by @radiohead you really swept us off our feet! literally! with choking
— Vomitface (@vomitfaceband) August 1, 2016
lol @ oceaga management telling us how stressful security’s job is and why it’s then okay for them to attack people unprovoked.
— Vomitface (@vomitfaceband) August 1, 2016
preetma in tears asked to leave festival. security gaurd who assaulted her being hidden from sight so he can’t be filmed.
— Vomitface (@vomitfaceband) August 1, 2016
btw all this started because jared forgot to swipe his vip pass and asked guard not to grab him.
— Vomitface (@vomitfaceband) August 1, 2016
hey @montreal we had a lovely visit to @osheaga and got to experience the contentious and abusive festival security! see you in court!
— Vomitface (@vomitfaceband) August 1, 2016
so @osheaga already has a reputation for #abuseatosheaga — I wonder if they have plans to change that?
— Vomitface (@vomitfaceband) August 2, 2016
A photo posted by Preetma Singh (@preetmasingh) on