Owen Pallett: “Jian Ghomehsi is My Friend…[he] Beats Women”
The wide-ranging aftermath of the sexual abuse allegations against former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi has continued today, 
this time with a self-confessed friend of the now controversial public figure taking a firm stance.
In a statement posted upon his Facebook page, critically-acclaimed musician, Owen Pallett, has decided not to question the abuse allegations that a number of unnamed women have levied against Ghomeshi.
“Jian Ghomeshi is my friend, and Jian Ghomeshi beats women,” asserted Pallett, who went on to explain the bond between he and Ghomeshi, as well as the recently-dismissed host’s occasionally odd behaviour.
Pallett’s post reiterates that quote several times throughout.
You can read his full statement below:
“I was challenged by a friend to say something about the recent allegations against Jian Ghomeshi.
“Jian is my friend. I have appeared twice on Q. But there is no grey area here. Three women have been beaten by Jian Ghomeshi.
“I have sat with Jian over drinks and discussed our respective anxiety disorders. We have been photographed hugging on camera.
“Just ten days ago, I helped him find musicians for his father’s funeral. Three women have said that Jian beat them without their consent.
“‘We will never really know what happened.’ Yes we do. Jian beat, at the very least, three women. Three women said so.’ They were jilted exes.’ Maybe so. They were beaten by Jian.
“’They were freelance writers looking to get ahead.’” Three women were beaten by Jian Ghomeshi.
“At no point here will I ever give my friend Jian’s version of the truth more creedence than the version of the truth offered up by three women. Anonymity does not mean these women do not exist.
“’They were engaged in BDSM role-play.’” This: this is something I need to talk about.
“The beauty of BDSM relationships is that the power is always in the hands of the sub. BDSM and choke play is a subversion of male violence.
“To hear that anybody has been abusing the BDSM power relationship for the purpose of engaging in non-consensual violence-against-women is horrifying.
“That is not the point of BDSM. BDSM is in fact about the exact opposite thing. It is about repurposing acts of violence into 
creating a power dynamic of fucking EQUALITY.
“As for the rest. I have seen my Facebook feed littered with comments about how “for years we’ve known Jian to be a shady character.”
“I too have heard endless rumours that he’s been a bad date, and have heard stories of shadiness and strange behaviour.
“I have heard about his ridiculous pick-up lines and have (to my shame) tittered about them with my friends. But I have never heard, until today, that Jian Ghomeshi beats women.
“I am skeptical of arts reporting. I am skeptical of Canadian journalism. I am sensitive toward shaming of people who are so-called sexual deviants.
“But let’s be clear. Whether the court decides that predatory men are punished or exonerated does not silence the voices of the victims. It does not make victims liars.
“Whether our culture continues to celebrate the works of predatory men is another issue. It does not silence the voices of the victims.
“Jian Ghomeshi is my friend, and Jian Ghomeshi beats women. How our friendship will continue remains to be seen.”
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