Margret Wander, known by her stage name Dessa, has come forward on an Instagram video to announce her support for victims of sexual misconduct and assault. In her video, Dessa acknowledges the allegations in anger as she holds back tears, directing some comments towards fellow Doomtree member P.O.S.
“I am just off a Zoom call with all of the members of Doomtree, the arts collective that I have been a part of for most of my adult life,” Dessa said in the video. “I know that in relationships, people hurt one another.”
Dessa’s Instagram video then begins to directly address Stefon Alexander, known by his stage name P.O.S, in her video. She discusses her own relationship with him in the video.
“The amount of pain that Stef, P.O.S, has caused people is not commensurate with any avoidable injuries that we inflict on one another when we are working together in good faith,” Dessa said. “It is not commensurate the avoidable injuries we inflict on one another when we are being careless. It is something else. The name for that thing is best determined by someone who is educated about interpersonal relationships, who has an expertise that I do not have.”
Dessa goes on to address those who are watching her video in addition to P.O.S The two had been in a relationship for several years, and she even wrote a memoir detailing how they had fallen in and out of love called My Own Devices: True Stories From the Road on Music, Science, and Senseless Love.
“But the stories you are reading about P.O.S, at least some of them are true,” Dessa said. “Huge, vast, deep oceans of pain, built on lies, deliberate lies, for years and years. Some of those relationships were available to him by virtue of the fact that he is a successful performing artist. My men and I are working hard to lead with love. Stef, you are not cancelled. You are broken. Your conduct is abhorrent. And I’d love to see a part of helping you, and the many women that you’ve hurt, heal. You are not allowed, Stef, to ruin the good names of the other members of this crew who are crying in the house behind me, to try to open their hearts in a way to love. You and me, as complicated as it all is. And so, love for the women who are suffering. You are not allowed to take them down. Because Doomtree means something, and you are not allowed outside of that compact. And as soon as you can align yourself with the values that this crew holds, I welcome you. But you are not allowed to undermine what we have built, we are going to do our best to practice radical honesty in a way that this community has not. We will be devoting resources to you, Stef, and to the domestic abuse project in the city.”
Several other artists have come forward on their own social media accounts to announce their support for victims of sexual assault. Additionally, Prof and Dem Atlas have been dropped from the Rhymesayers label, another hip-hop label located in Minneapolis after series of Tweets made by Prof and allegations against Dem Atlas surfaced.
P.O.S made a statement acknowledging the allegations made against Chris Young, better known as DJ Fundo three days ago. DJ Fundo had DJed for P.O.S and Prof in the past.
“I want to acknowledge and apologize for my role in not holding myself or my cis-male people accountable for our roles in perpetuating misogyny and hostility to women in our scene and city,” P.O.S said in his statement on Instagram.
Astronautalis, a rapper and friend of Doomtree members, also came forward in his support for victims of sexual assault, critiquing himself for not speaking up sooner.
“I am ashamed that I, and an entire community didn’t exhibit that same level of courage in confront Fundo and many others over the course of years and years,” Astronautalis said in his Tweet. “Our silence comes at a great cost to a lot of people. I am really embarrassed by, and deeply sorry for that.”
Lazerbeak, another member of Doomtree, also took to social media about the allegations against some of the artists on Doomtree, stating his support for victims.
“Over the past few days the Twin Cities hip hop scene has been put under a microscope, in a long overdue examination of abuse and misogyny,” Lazerbeak said on Instagram. “I know I’m going to get a lot wrong while talking about this, but I also know the only way for change to occur is to step into this conversation, listen, learn, and help create that change.”
DJ Fundo has had several allegations made against him, with an alleged victim detailing an alleged relationship with Fundo.
Other women have come forward with their own allegations in the comments of social media posts, discussing their own experiences.
DJ Minnie Blanco took to Twitter with allegations against P.O.S. and Doomtree, although the exact nature of the allegations remained unclear.
Blanco then referred to a post made by Andi Snow on Twitter and her alleged experiences with P.O.S.
DJ Rowsheen also took to Twitter to make allegations against an unnamed DJ, alleging that she had been groomed. She also made allegations against men in the scene with alleged verbal abuse.
UPDATE (6/26)
P.O.S has responded to Dessa’s video and allegations made against him. He acknowledged allegations of cheating and alleged emotional abuse, stating: “I own it here and I will have to own it in every one of my relationships, on and offline.”
UPDATE (6/29)
The Twin Cities publication City Pages reached out to Dessa to ask if she and P.O.S continue to be part of Doomtree.
“This is a messy answer but it’s the honest one,” Dessa said to City Pages. “When I was asked to join to Doomtree I was told we were Friendship first, Music second, and Business third. We are operating now as a family, we will sort the business later.”
Photo credit: Marv Watson
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