Festivals Ban Techno DJs after Accusations of Inappropriate Behavior

Several techno DJs have been banned from Dutch festivals Verknipt, DGTL, Awakenings, and Dominator due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

The DJs involved include French artists Shlømo and Basswell. French-American DJ Fantasm, CARV from Germany, and Belgian Odymel have also been canceled. Together, they have millions of followers and listeners on Spotify.

A former employee of the well-known booking agency Steer Management has accused the DJs of sexual misconduct. He shared screenshots of numerous chat conversations on social media.

These messages allegedly showed that the DJs approached minors and made misogynistic remarks. In addition, some allegedly sent unsolicited intimate photos to fans. Other alleged victims subsequently shared their stories as well.

The DJs in question have responded to the allegations in varying ways. CARV, for example, admits to sharing intimate photos and terminated his carreer. Shlømo denies the accusations and claims to be “the target of a smear campaign.” Belgian DJ Odymel says he doesn’t remember any physical sexual abuse and claims it occurred while he was sleepwalking.

Cancelled from Awakenings, DGTL and Verknipt
The allegations have not been independently verified. Nevertheless, the French artist agency Steer Management has decided to end its collaboration with the DJs involved. Now, several Dutch festivals are also removing the acts from their lineups.

For example, DJ Odymel is no longer allowed to perform at the Awakenings and DGTL festivals, the organizers stated in a statement to AD. “Given the seriousness of what has come to light, we believe that distancing ourselves is the right decision,” Awakenings wrote.

Festival Dominator is removing techno DJs Hades and CARV from the lineup. And DJs Basswell, CARV, and Shlømo are no longer welcome at Verknipt. “The safety, trust, and well-being of our visitors and community are paramount in everything we do,” the organizers wrote. The Verknipt festival, which begins on March 6, is searching for suitable replacements.

Foreign festivals such as Sound Department in Italy and the Spanish festival Blackworks are also taking measures. The DJs involved are no longer welcome on stage there either.