Dance Gavin Dance Welcome Back Vocalist After Sexual Assault Allegations

Tilian Pearson has reunited with Dance Gavin Dance after departing the band back in June due to sexual assault allegations.

Allegations against the vocalist first appeared on Reddit on 1 June from a woman who claimed that she was "preyed upon," with Pearson responding directly to her by writing, "every sexual act was purely consensual." 

Another allegation surfaced a day later when another Reddit poster claimed that the singer forced her into sex. Pearson also directly responded, calling their encounter "a consensual experience" but that he would "be entering an intensive therapy program to address this issue head-on".

More allegations appeared on social media around that time. Dance Gavin Dance shared a statement on 4 June where they wrote that Pearson would be "stepping away from the band". The band was also replaced by Alkaline Trio on Coheed & Cambria's North American tour, which they were supposed to support.

In new statements shared by Dance Gavin Dance and Pearson, it's been revealed that the singer has rejoined the band.

The band wrote: "If the past year has taught us anything, it's that everyone handles grief differently, and Tilian is no exception. When Tilian opened up to us about his substance abuse problem that had spiralled in recent months, we all agreed that he needed time to reset his life to avoid the tragic fate of so many artists before him. 

"We are a resilient group who has always believed in redemption, and we have seen the hard work that Tilian has been doing to address and overcome an issue that has plagued him for years. That's why we are welcoming him back to the band. We are proud of his progress, and we look forward to seeing all of you on the road next year."

Meanwhile, in Pearson's statement, he acknowledges his struggles with alcohol but denies any wrongdoing. He wrote:

"I wanted to update everyone on what has been happening during my time away from Dance Gavin Dance

"When the band was dealing with the tragic loss of one of our brothers, it could have brought us together, but instead, it sent me down a self-destructive path.

"I’ve spent the past few months in a rehab program for alcohol alongside an intensive series of therapy sessions to reassess my life and how I want to live it.

"It became clear to me and my bandmates that this is what had to happen for me to continue with the group, and I will always appreciate their understanding, support, and the time that they have given me to get my life together.

"I hate the power that I have allowed alcohol to have over my life. I want to apologize to the band and all of the fans of Dance Gavin Dance and assure you that my mistakes are purely my own and should never be a reflection on the other members.

"It’s also important for me to address something that has been twisted and misrepresented during my absence from the band. The work I have done on myself and my substance abuse issues has nothing to do with any kind of sexual misconduct. I have never had sex or any kind of intimate relationship without the consent of a partner.

"I hope this clears up the events of the last few months, and I’m excited to reunite with the band and see you all on the road in 2023."

In April, Dance Gavin Dance bassist Tim Feerick suddenly passed away. The band's tenth album, Jackpot Juicer, was released on 29 July, and its corresponding tour was supposed to be in Feerick's memory.