Across the weekend a bizarre story emerged featuring Evian Christ, the security at Leeds Festival and a cage.
The DJ was held backstage, placed in a locked environment until security could ascertain his true identity. Tweeting from the cage, the #freeevian campaign took off on social media, before the producer was allowed out.
Pulling out of Reading Festival, organiser Melvin Benn opted to release a statement:
"Evian was found in a not very good state in the woods, without being able or willing to disclose who he was. He was effectively held till we knew who he was. He certainly wasn't prevented from performing under any circumstances. It was his decision not to perform, not the festival's."
At which point Evian Christ decided that enough, simply, was enough. The producer wrote a note on Facebook which said:
"i haven't wanted to go into this much detail until now, because if the festival had emailed me a simple apology I would actually have happily played reading. but i've sent two detailed emails to the festival organisers since friday and have received no response."
"last night, however, festival owner melvin benn found a moment in his busy schedule of being an a top-class dickhead to claim via the NME that i was "intoxicated and refusing to identify myself". even if that were true (it isn't), there's likely a better way to deal with that situation than to physically detain someone who isn't actually legally under arrest for anything. so im sorry melv, you weren't there mate, i was. i'd had a few drinks as i always do at a show (your festival provided them) but i was fine and your security staff removed the only form of identification given to me after i provided them with it. those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at a DJ they locked in a cage"
The statement ended:
"we have big issues with regulation of police and private security services in the uk, nobody should be detained in a cage by an employer because they can't find their car. didnt really want to go into this much detail publicly and im absolutely fine, but when you see defamatory quotes flying around you kinda have to say something. anyway have a nice week fuck leeds fest xo evian"
Check out the full statement HERE.
Photo Credit: Ash Kingston
