Accepting truth over perception isn’t a simple process, especially when someone who radiates innocence is accused of a disturbing crime. Fans perceived Alex O’Connor, also known as Rex Orange County, to be a feminist artist. This perception was shattered by recent accusations against him of sexual assault. Since then, people who supported O’Connor previously have been unsure about the correct way to move forward.
After the first waves of initial shock, conflict between ex-fans arose. The dilemma became: should people listen to O’Connor’s music after the allegations?
Through all outlets online, ex-fans expressed disgust in the continued engagement and support of O’Connor’s content. Once these ex-fans found out O’Connor was accused of sexual assault, they claimed O’Connor to be unworthy of his profit and questioned the ethical standards of those continuing the show which O’Connor supports. These people, rightfully infuriated, refused to listen to his songs out of respect for the victims.
On the contrary, some have expressed a desire to separate the art from the artist, which they should not, as this alternative proves to be disrespectful and dishonest. Allow me to paint an paint along with demonstrating the fault in this argument: O’Connor creates feminist music. So, in this situation to separate the art (the music) from the artist (the person, O’Connor), the supporter would ignore his true, malicious intentions in order to respect the song. I understand and would like to validate the importance of finding music with enjoyment and meaning. However, if the creator’s genuine intentions are so far unparallelled to their creation, as ethical consumers, we should identify the dishonesty and avoid engaging in O’Connor’s lack of integrity. Technically, and luckily for many, there are no violations or laws against being unethical. The issue occurs when people refuse to separate the art from the artist. This constricts their ability to think beyond the boundaries. It is also shameful to treat a person the same, as you would if nothing ever happened, after they've violated someone. Art that was made dishonestly and with disrespect cannot be treated and continuously praised to have the same value.
If we take anything away from this situation, consider that consumers and outsiders are always unsure about what an artist’s intentions are, even when they produce something intimate, such as music, that makes us feel connected to them. This is a disappointment for everyone. The public is left questioning which artists they should trust and should support, while some are fine ignoring the truth in order to respect their art. The question remains: how can we encourage consumers to make ethical decisions in their support of art?
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