With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Musicians, Including Best Coast, Accuse Music Publicist Of Sexual Assault
Amber Coffman performs with Dirty Projectors at Coachella in 2010. On Monday, Coffman accused former Life or Death PR CEO Heathcliff Berru of sexual assault. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
Several musicians have come forward saying that the former CEO and founder of a major music PR and management firm sexually assaulted them.On Monday night, Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors wrote a series of tweets accusing Life or Death PR and Management's Heathcliff Berru of sexually assaulting her "a couple years ago." "He did it in front of 4 of my male friends," Coffman tweeted. "Still makes me so damn mad thinking about it."
Sponsor
In a phone interview with New York Magazine, Coffman says she met Berru at an Unknown Mortal Orchestra concert in Los Angeles and the assault took place a week later in New York.
Soon after Coffman publicly talked about the assault, she received responses from other musicians and women in the music industry who expressed their support and shared their own experiences with Berru, including Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast:
Thank you @Amber_Coffman for bravely speaking the truth. Heathcliff Berru is a scumbag and I'm glad someone finally spoke up.
— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 19, 2016
@motormouthmedia @Amber_Coffman I'm so sad to hear so many women have had this experience w/ him but I'm happy it's being brought to light
— Best Coast (@BestCoast) January 19, 2016
Beth Martinez of PR firm Danger Village:
.@Amber_Coffman he repeatedly put his hand down my shirt while driving me home after I told him to stop many times
— Beth Martinez. Hero. (@dangervillage) January 19, 2016
@Amber_Coffman also I'm fairly certain I've been roofied by him or members of his crew on more than one occasion
— Beth Martinez. Hero. (@dangervillage) January 19, 2016
Sponsor
Yasmine Kittles of Tearist:
Thank you @Amber_Coffman in 2009 he grabbed my ass and then held me down onto my couch as he unzipped his pants &forced my hand on his dick.
— TEARIST (@_TEARIST_) January 19, 2016
. @Amber_Coffman I felt humiliated and violated and alone. I told some of he & I's mutual guy friends & no one helped me... My own "friends"
— TEARIST (@_TEARIST_) January 19, 2016
. @Amber_Coffman I wanted to speak out, but I was scared- of the backlash, seeming like a victim, of defending myself & having to relive it
— TEARIST (@_TEARIST_) January 19, 2016
Others who have spoken out include Gorilla vs. Bear photographer Faith Silva, former MTV VJ Shirley Braha, and musician Roxy Lange, among many others.
In response to the allegations, several musicians on Life or Death's roster have also severed ties with the firm, including Wavves, DIIV, Speedy Ortiz and Kelala.
You can read more of the tweets collected over at Stereogum and Pitchfork.
Sponsor
On Tuesday, Life or Death issued a statement saying that Berru would be stepping down as CEO. "Life or Death has a zero tolerance policy for the type of conduct alleged in today’s on-line postings. We take these allegations very seriously," the statement reads. "The men and women who make up this company do not, and will not, condone or tolerate any conduct described in the on-line postings." Life or Death president Nick Dierl clarified to Stereogum that Berru "will not be involved in the operations at all moving forward."
Other artists represented by Life or Death include Los Angeles' Cherry Glazerr, Killer Mike, D'Angelo, Odd Future and Cloud Nothings.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
