Published
Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 13:00
- Till Lindemann, who is facing sexual assault allegations, was seen entering the club without being checked by security
on Sunday, July 16th.
Berlin's KitKatClub has come under fire for hosting Rammstein lead singer Till Lindemann, who is under investigation over allegations of sexual assault.
Lindemann was seen entering the club without being checked by security during a Somnabul party on Sunday, July 16th.
Iva Bodul, who was DJing on the night, was first to publicise concerns about Lindemann's presence at the sex-positive venue via Instagram Stories. "Unfortunately, the whole thing has a very shitty aftertaste," she wrote.
KitKat responded to Bodul with an email that described the situation as "difficult," due to little being known about the case. The email continued: "Nothing questionable ever happened at the club and his daughter was often there too. I don't know what's right at this moment. I don't want to prejudice anyone."
Local DJ Intaktogene told Resident Advisor she won't be accepting future bookings at KitKat. "Whoever allows Till Lindemann into a sex-positive club and justifies it afterwards because 'you don't know what's true' completely shits on the testimonies of dozens of women against whom only the perpetrator stands," she said.
Intaktogene argued that Lindemann's admittance made KitKat the antithesis of a safe space.
"This just proves that Kitkat would rather be schmoozing with a famous and powerful old white man than take the safety of their guests seriously," she added.
Xpresso Martina, another artist who played at KitKat on Sunday, also made a statement via Instagram Stories. They said they'll no longer play at the club until it "takes accountability" for allowing Lindemann to enter without a search.
"It made my guts churn to hear he was there right after I played at KitKat myself on Sunday," they told RA. "It's not a question of whether Lindemann is guilty or not. Letting someone into a sex-positive party among accusations like this goes against all politics of what a safe space should be. It shows a lack of understanding of what constitutes a safe environment for parties like this and ultimately means there is no regard to the safety and comfort of guests. The situation has been handled very poorly by KitKat."
Last month, state prosecutors launched an official inquiry into allegations made by multiple women who said they were selected to have sex with Lindemann during and after shows. Among them was Shelby Lynn who told the BBC she was spiked and "groomed for sex" at an afterparty in Lithuania in May.
Despite the allegations and a petition demanding the cancellation of Rammstein concerts, the band has continued to perform to sold-out stadiums. New allegations of sexual assault were reported on Monday by Süddeutsche Zeitung after two women anonymously came forward with claims of sexual assault, which reportedly took place in 2002.
Lindemann has also been accused of dosing women with a date-rape drug dubbed "knock out drops." "How safe is a space when Mr K.O. Drops is allowed to hang out there?" German drum & bass artist Feindsoul asked when discussing the situation with RA.
Last month, the band's management declared that while an internal inquiry into the allegations was underway, the band wouldn't be hosting any concert afterparties. Berlin-based artist Megalopsy told RA this is what made Tillman's presence at KitKat so disturbing. "The fact he felt so comfortable going into a place considered a safe space for sexual expression is concerning," he said. "It's something we need to speak out against and address as a culture."
Nadisuparni Prem Nadi told RA that she's known the KitKat owners for 40 years. She said door security should have given Lindemann "a straight no" and prevented him from entering. "Not so many women can tell lies," she added.
Some members of the clubbing community have since called for the boycott of KitKat, but artist Terri Hosford told RA that the situation remains a "grey area" until allegations are proven. "The emotional response would be to boycott KitKat, but it's not the right response," she added.
Ebe Jet agreed with Hosford. "He's been to the venue a few times and the door staff knew him. Right now he stands accused not convicted."
But one person who didn't want to be named told RA that "consent has been missing at KitKat for some time. People arrive with the wrong understanding that anything goes. There's no adequate controls in place and people who report something often get kicked out by security because they're seen as problematic."
Ozi Ozar told RA that they were ejected from KitKat last August after making a complaint to security about being sexually violated.
DJ Max Marlon told RA such incidents put the spotlight on a much bigger safeguarding issue in sex-positive safe spaces. "Welcoming an alleged perpetrator into a club while simultaneously touting a 'safe(r) space' and 'consent,' especially for FLINTA people, is definitely not working out. What's more dangerous is creating the illusion of it being a safe space when it isn't."
RA reached out to KitKat but hasn't yet received a response.
We'll report on this story as it unfolds.