Universal Music announced Thursday that it has suspended marketing and promotional activities for German metal rock band Rammstein following a wave of sexual assault allegations against its frontman.
“The charges against Till Lindemann are shocking to us. We have the utmost respect for the women who have spoken so courageously in public on this matter,” the company said in a statement.
“We have suspended marketing and promotional activities for the band’s recordings until further notice,” it added.
Several women have recently claimed they were drugged and tricked into having sex with Lindemann, 60, at after parties for the band’s concerts. The German justice has opened an investigation.
Lindemann has denied the allegations, and his lawyers have called them “false, without exception.”
German Culture Minister Claudia Roth said Thursday that the investigation into Lindemann “underlines the fact that these allegations must be taken seriously.”
In an interview with the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel, Ms. Roth called on the concert organizers to take measures to keep fans safe.
“These accusations show once again the urgency of establishing a code of conduct for the music industry and for the cultural industry in general,” he said.
The scandal broke when an Irish girl claimed on social media that Lindemann drugged her and accosted her during a backstage party after a concert in Vilnius.
Since then, several similar testimonials have been posted on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Protests over the allegations led to the cancellation of all Rammstein concert after-parties in Munich, Germany last week. After-show parties will also be canceled during the band’s concerts in Berlin in July.
