Kat Katz Releases Final Statement on Her Split with Agoraphobic Nosebleed
Kat Katz has sent MetalSucks what she says will be her final statement on her decision to quit Agoraphobic Nosebleed this week.
For those of you who need to catch up: Katz quit the band after declaring that she was “tired of being bullied” by dudes. The band subsequently responded by ostensibly arguing that while there was a disagreement between Katz and the other members of ANb, that disagreement had nothing to do with Katz’s gender. Katz then released another statement, this time alleging that an unspecified member of the band “was screaming at me while I was balling my eyes out. I was belittled. I was treated like a child.”
Katz’s final statement is below:
“My decision to leave Agoraphobic Nosebleed after our appearance at Quebec Deathfest in Montreal symbolized the end of a series of uncomfortable events I have experienced over the last several weeks with the band. These experiences included situations in which I felt my presence as an equal member was no longer respected, and my gender served as a reason to belittle my presence and my opinion on the personal dynamics and inner workings of the band. As someone who has performed within the extreme music scene for many years and remained (to my own detriment) quiet about experiences prior to my work with AnB of harassment and sexualized bullying, I decided that for my own well-being, the cycle of misogyny, overt and unwanted sexual behavior directed towards me had to stop.
“While I considered quitting immediately after our show in Montreal, I first consulted with several of my close friends to see if I could cope with what happened because I loved playing in this band and despite our differences, respected my musical colleagues. However, after considering the disrespect demonstrated towards me as a musician, a woman, and as a prominent member of AnB, I decided to leave.
“The response by my former bandmates to my decision has been extremely disappointing, but not entirely surprising. Unfortunately, it is common for people to assume that women’s accounts of harassment come from a place of hysteria and hypersensitivity, versus the responses by their male colleagues that for the most part, are perceived as ‘the truth’” – especially within a male-dominated musical genre and culture.
“I am saddened that my decision to leave has caused additional strife, but despite that, I wish my former musical colleagues the best in their future endeavors.”
