The Griswolds’ Chris Whitehall Has Admitted To Sexual Misconduct Following Multiple Allegations
"The things I have done and the way I have acted is terrible and I’m not going to make any excuses."
Chris Whitehall, singer of Sydney indie outfit The Griswolds, has responded to allegations that he groomed and sent sexually explicit messages to two women when they were minors, admitting the allegations are true.
— Contain: This article contains discussion of sexual misconduct. —
The claims, which were made over social media, have been circling for a number of days. In one of the allegations, the victim claims that Whitehall initiated conversation by promising her tickets to a gig. After that, he continued to chat to the victim, with the conversation repeatedly veering into inappropriate terrain.
“When things had begun getting more intense, I brought up my age,” the woman wrote in her social media statement.
The second allegation is similar in nature — that young woman claims Whitehall initiated a conversation with her when she was 17, again pushing the conversation into inappropriate territory over texts. In a screenshot this alleged victim posted to Twitter, Whitehall responds to her revelation of her age by saying, “God, I’m a paedophile.”
In both cases, the women allege that Whitehall sent them sexually explicit videos and photos, knowing they were underage.
Read the allegations below.
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Allegations from @kellyblaus about @christopher_whitehall from the @thegriswolds .
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Allegations from @kellyblaus about @christopher_whitehall from the @thegriswolds .
Now, Whitehall has responded to the allegations, confirming that they are true and saying he takes “full responsibility and ownership” for his actions.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am confirming that the statements I have read are true and I am here to take full responsibility and ownership of my actions,” Whitehall wrote in a post on The Griswolds’ Instagram and across his socials.
“There is zero excuse for my behaviour, the things I have done and the way I have acted is terrible and I’m’ not going to make any excuses. I want to confront this, I want to be held accountable and I deserve to be called out.”
“To the women that have come out, I support your statements and I am so deeply sorry that I hurt you and that I disrespected you. I am sorry for the damage I have caused you. You did not deserve any of this.”
In his concluding statements, Whitehall acknowledges he will be seeking “professional help”. Read his statement below.
Photo Credit: Amy Sussman / Getty Images