Recently, news of Alex O’Connor’s, otherwise known as ‘Rex Orange County’, sexual transgressions have emerged. O’Connor, 24, faces charges of six counts of sexual assault. On October 10th, he appeared in Southwark Crown Court and pled ‘not guilty’ to these allegations.
Rex has since cancelled the European and Antipodean legs of his ‘Pony’ tour and, at the time of releasing this statement, he claimed that this was due to “unforeseen personal circumstances” which now, in retrospect, seems extremely insensitive and inconsiderate.
Videos surfaced on TikTok of the ‘Loving is Easy’ singer’s last show at Gunnersbury Park back in August, in which he is seen to be weeping. Many ignorant TikTok users speculated at the time that this was a response to his having “made it” but the dark reality of the situation was since revealed and has left his fans deeply disheartened.
One user (@phoebeemmett) commented; “I feel sick that the last London show was able to go ahead. 20,000 people were allowed to go and feel sad for him because we thought he was stopping the tour to take care of himself, when he knew the real reason it wasn’t going ahead. It was such an emotional atmosphere at the concert and there he was able to go up there and cry and feel bad for himself. We were crying for him to feel better and in reality, he was crying for himself and everything that was about to catch up to him.”
Guilty or not, within this narrative arises the matter of the music industry’s problematic reluctance to vilify abusers- of which women are included but not limited to. The overwhelming majority of offenders are men, nonetheless. The likes of Chris Brown, whose domestic abuse against singer, Rhianna, and rape accusations are incontestable, and R. Kelly, who was found guilty of child abuse and sex trafficking, are still celebrated musicians.
The industry’s hesitancy to convict its celebrated entertainers reveals the intrinsic element of rape culture embedded within society. Since the dawn of time, it seems, women have been sexually objectified, and their rights and safety have been neglected. Showbiz has since profited off of and glamorised sexual violence, and by victim-blaming or by sweeping these claims under the red carpet, we too are complicit: glorifying abusers is glorifying abuse.
O’Connor’s music is wholesome and emotional, much like his persona would suggest. Undoubtedly, he fits into the ‘Soft Boy’ aesthetic. Alongside the likes of Harry Styles, Jaden Smith and Timothée Chalamet, the ‘Soft Boy’ look challenges conventional masculinity and gender conformity. Androgyny and emotional tenderness are key characteristics of this temperament. Psychologically, this look is suggestive of the fact that its wearer is non-threatening and feminist- ‘the Beta Male’. However, as these accusations against O’Connor have come to light, the question has arisen as to whether this is merely a façade on his part. Like his stage name, is Rex’s image solely a construct? Is he, in fact, a queerbaiting chauvinist? Time will tell, his trial date has been set for January 3rd, 2023.
In a press release, one of O’Connor’s representatives issued a statement which claimed that “Alex is shocked by the allegations, which he denies, and looks forward to clearing his name in court…He is unable to make any further comment because of the ongoing proceedings.”
Rex Orange County. Photo by Dan Burn-Forti.
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