We Stand With Survivors
TW // Rape, Sexual Assault and Misconduct, Predatory Behavior - Please read with caution!
We, the Heart Eyes Magazine team, have always prided ourselves on supporting and uplifting artists that we and our readers believe deserve recognition and love. Recent events have revealed to us, however, that some of the artists we have worked with in the past never deserved our support in the first place due to allegations of rape, sexual assault, predatory behavior, and other heinous actions. That said, it’s important that we utilize the power of our platform correctly, to not only address any harm that we may have caused in working with these artists, but to express our sincerest support and care for those speaking up about them.
We recognize that working with and giving a platform to an artist comes with a massive amount of responsibility and that our collective voice has power in of itself. In giving artists the ability to be heard by our audience, we, in a way, validate not only their work, but them as people, and subsequently, their actions.
That said, now that we are aware that a few artists we have worked with have misused their own platforms to take advantage of and manipulate those close to them (and even those who weren’t), we feel disgusted to have given them opportunities with us. But having regret isn’t enough—we aren’t saying this to save face and express empty words about how much we wish things were different. Plainly, it’s horrifying that artists we once wanted to uplift have taken the power that the people who love and support them have provided and used it insidiously. This isn’t something we can sit back and watch unfold without saying anything, as complacency and neutrality does nothing but side with the oppressor. Accountability is an absolute necessity, always.
We have an obligation to do the literal bare minimum and speak on our past misjudgment regarding involvement with artists and creatives such as Cuco, Bane’s World, Summer Salt, Spendtime Palace, Pinegrove, Echosmith, and others that have since been outed. Bluntly, we should have spoken on this long before now. We have an obligation to place the safety and wellbeing of our readers and supporters (and music-listeners in general) above the content we produce, and that includes making sure that artists who don’t deserve coverage don’t gain a platform through us. We have to do better. That said, we are taking down any content we have produced that has featured any of the artists listed and henceforth denounce our support of anyone who would stoop so low as to hurt someone in the specific ways previously mentioned.
In general, this obligation extends beyond us as a music publication, too.
All of us on the Heart Eyes team, as human beings, stand with and for survivors, especially noting how courageous it is to speak on what you’ve experienced. That courage is real—especially when your abuser has power via their position as an artist (no matter how “big”), speaking out is daunting (not to mention potentially traumatizing), and it’s brave as hell to speak out despite that. We believe survivors and hope to amplify their voices and support them in their process of coming out publicly. And that support extends to those who haven’t yet spoken out, too—you don’t need to voice your story to feel validated and loved because you deserve that regardless.
Along with our unconditional support for survivors, we must stand against abusers and ensure that they no longer have power, nor a platform, and we aim to work on that constantly. The “indie” scene is incredibly toxic, no matter what might be the popular narrative, and we’re sick and tired of seeing “softbois” take advantage of the (little) fame they have to hurt the people around them. Plainly, it’s disgusting, selfish, and disheartening (to say the least) and it’s a trend that cannot continue. That said, we will make an effort to be more conscious of the artists we work with in the future.
Feel free to shoot us a DM (@hearteyesmag on Instagram) or an email (hearteyesmag@gmail.com) if you feel inclined to reach out to us in any way. We support and are here for you.