By Izzie James.
Content Warning: References to Sexual Assault
This past week, fans of the artist Alexander O’Connor, known by his stage name ‘Rex Orange County’, were left heartbroken when it emerged that he is being taken to court over sexual assault charges. Although the trial is yet to happen, the idea that their favourite artist could do something so horrible sent shockwaves through his fanbase and the internet.
Many people took to social media to express their disappointment and disgust. O’Connor’s music was a source of comfort. Those who have been supporting him for years found themselves unable to listen to his music. Thoughts went out to the victim, who remains anonymous, with fans tweeting messages such as: ‘this has broken me but my sympathy only lies with the victim’ and ‘we’re truly hurt but can’t imagine how the victim feels.’
The case against O’Connor brings back a question that has been asked for many years: Should we separate the art from the artist? How can we? Should we no longer listen to someone’s music, watch their movies or consume their artwork after they have been accused of something so terrible?
For fans in 2022, separating the art from the artist seems different. This is because social media has created a new insight into the lives of the artist. Fans will feel closer to the artist because they can view their everyday life through social media, creating this sense of knowing the artist on an intimate level. Before social media, you couldn’t just log onto Instagram to see what your favourite celebrity is up to, or interact with them through your phone. With O’Connor’s charges coming to light, many fans feel that a personal connection, and a form of trust, has been broken. It goes to show that social media is not a reality, and that following and watching someone religiously through a screen does not mean that you know them.
There is another strange dimension to separating the art from the artist. Some artists are able to push past their controversies and accusations. Chris Brown has had numerous charges against him, with the most notorious being his assault on Rihanna in 2009. He’s also been accused of theft, sexual assault and has had a restraining order filed against him. Despite all this, he still has a huge following, with his music continuing to be played around the world.
Although O’Connor has pleaded not guilty, with his trial date set for January, his reception after the case will be interesting. Rex Orange County is considered a ‘nice guy’. His music centres around love, heartbreak and healing. His lyrics include statements such as:
‘It ain’t new to me, feeling this lonely’
‘There ain’t no one else more beautiful in this damn world’
‘I can show you everything’
In contrast, Chris Brown’s lyrics are littered with profanities, objectifying women and boasting about his actions:
‘These hoes ain’t loyal’
‘I can make a broke bitch rich’
‘She f*** me for the fame’
Chris Brown’s ability to continue to thrive in the music world suggests that the image an artist perpetuates affects people’s reactions to their controversies. O’Connor, if proven guilty, will induce a huge feeling of betrayal in his fans, as they saw him as the reliable ‘nice guy’. In contrast, Chris Brown embodies the ‘bad boy’ trope, an unapologetically controversial figure who does not shy away from it in his lyrics. Where O’Connor opens up about sadness and loneliness in his songs, creating a bridge between listener and singer, Chris Brown keeps you at a distance, his songs never really breaking through surface level materiality.
If O’Connor is proven guilty, he should not be allowed the privilege of having a platform or continuing to produce music. Chris Brown should not either, but unfortunately, he has come out of his controversies fairly unscathed. Expectations aside, it is important to hold all artists to the same standards. We shouldn’t be giving a platform to assaulters. Social media is a great way to support your favourite artist, but it is not always an accurate portrayal of that person.