SEATTLE (CelebrityAccess) Former Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley has released a statement denying recent allegations of sexual harassment.
Tinsley has been accused in a $9 million lawsuit filed by trumpeter and former Crystal Garden bandmate James Frost-Winn of making frequent sexual comments and an incident where Tinsley masturbated in front of him.
“I’m truly hurt by the one-sided account that appeared on a blog about me yesterday. I only wish the reporter had spoken to me first, so they would have heard the truth,” Tinsley said in a statement distributed to several media outlets. “I will defend myself against these false accusations. I can only assume the motivation for the article and the lawsuit filed against me.
“These accusations have caused embarrassment for my family, my friends and my fans. I will fight both in and out of court to repair the damage that has been done.”
Frost-Winn’s attorney, Jason Hatch, told Rolling Stone the denial is too little, too late.
“We are disappointed in Mr. Tinsley’s complete lack of personal responsibility for his actions,” Hatch said. “Further, multiple media sources have indicated that they reached out to Mr. Tinsley and that he made no attempt to become a part of the conversation. His statement ‘I only wish the reporter had spoken to me first’ is disingenuous at best. Mr. Tinsley continues to show a lack of understanding of the obligation to not exploit an employee for sexual gratification. We will continue to move forward with our claims, and look forward to our day in court.”
Tinsley announced in February he was taking a break from DMB. The band subsequently released a statement that said Tinsley was “no longer a member of the band and we are shocked by these disturbing allegations and we were not previously aware of them.”
