The Berlin Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Wednesday (14.06.2023) that it has initiated proceedings against Till Lindemann, the vocalist of the heavy metal band Rammstein, in relation to a scandal involving alleged sexual and power abuses against young female fans of the band. The investigation has been opened “based on several third-party complaints” as well as ex officio, stated spokesperson Karen Sommer in a statement to Efe.
The vocalist is suspected of having committed acts “within the realm of sexual offenses and the provision of narcotic substances,” Sommer pointed out. She added that, at the moment, the prosecutor’s office cannot provide further details in order to avoid jeopardizing the investigation and putting Lindemann’s and his potential victims’ rights at risk.
Sexual and power abuses
The scandal erupted several weeks ago when an Irish woman reported that she had been given drugs at a Rammstein concert in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, allegedly with the purpose of engaging in sexual activities with the vocalist.
This was followed by an onslaught of testimonies from other women, collected in various German and international media outlets, denouncing the existence of a purported system around the singer to lure young women with whom he could have sexual relations after concerts. Some claim to have felt intimidated or violated by Lindemann’s behavior, while others have stated that the singer abused them or witnessed other girls behaving as if they were drugged.
The Lithuanian police announced last weekend that they would not continue investigating the original complaint against the singer, presumably due to lack of evidence. However, in Germany, the controversy surrounding the popular band, which has so far denied all allegations and called for Lindemann’s presumption of innocence to be respected, continues to grow.
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