Since the victim’s story went viral, more allegations against Maynard James Keenan have surfaced
Disturbing news surrounding the frontman for Tool and A Perfect Circle, Maynard James Keenan, has surfaced online detailing the rape of a 17-year-old fan in 2000. The victim shared her story in a series of tweets posted to an anonymous Twitter account — and the details she shares are horrifying.
While performing with A Perfect Circle back in 2000, Keenan was 36 years old and on tour with Nine Inch Nails. The victim, posting from @IWas17HeWas36, shares she was a huge fan at the time and attended the concert with her high school friends and boyfriend.
Deep breath. I have to anonymously tell this story because I tried to tell it from my real account and couldn't name him directly out of fear, so I deleted the tweets. Here goes: I was 17 and he was 36. 1/
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
She says she was in the front row, and Keenan noticed her in the crowd.
Maynard saw me and threw a water bottle in my direction. The guy next to me caught it. My boyfriend and I laughed and thought that was cool. Minutes later, a heavy-set, blonde, white woman came out to meet us. She looked at me and asked, “Do you want to meet the band?” 4/
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
She asked if her boyfriend could go with her to meet the band, but was told only “one pass” was available. She went backstage.
Maynard was sitting on a picnic table and was staring at me. NIN hadn’t gone on yet so I thought I had plenty of time to get an autograph and get back to the show and my boyfriend. I didn’t have a piece of paper, so I asked Maynard to sign my hand. /6
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
I was ready to go back with my bf. NIN was starting and I didn’t want to miss it. But Maynard kept chatting. He asked me how old I was. I said, “I’m 17.” Then he said, “I can’t talk to you here, let’s go watch a movie” and he pulled me away from everyone and onto a tour bus. /7
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
He lead me to a bed in the back on the bus and closed the door. He put on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I decided to watch a few minutes and at least have a weird story to tell my boyfriend later. Yes, 17 year olds can be naïve. This is why older men target teenage girls. /8
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
She says Keenan began rubbing her neck while talking about the movie. He then took his pants off — the victim says all she could do was “sit there, unable to move.”
[TW: graphic details about rape below.]
I froze so he had to move my body into a missionary position. He pulled off my cargo pants. He forced himself in- there was no attempt at "warming up". I mention this because this wasn't about sex. This was about raping me as fast as he could. /10
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
He penetrated my vagina without a condom, moving rapidly, while I lay there frozen in a stunned silence. If I sound clinical it's because it has been a long time and I have tried to push down any sort of fear or shame that comes with a rape. /11
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
There was no consent made. I was not high. I was clean. He did not seduce me, he forced me, quickly taking advantage of my paralyzed state. It took me years to process his actions. He came all over my torso and didn’t wipe me off. There were stains on my tank top when I left. /12
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
After being raped, she says the following few minutes aren’t clear — but she recalls her boyfriend was waiting for her and his face was “sick with worry.” She says she kept the rape to herself to avoid upsetting him.
The victim says she’s coming forward now because discussions surrounding consent are much more prevalent now, in the era of #MeToo.
I’m sure to some this doesn’t sound like rape. I’m telling this story because in the year 2000 the conversation about consent was non-existent, at least not at my high school. Statutory rape in this state is 16 and under. Lucky for him he beat it by 1 year. /14
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
It has been 18 years and I’m still working through the trauma of that assault. #MeToo and #TimesUp has been an eye opener. I hope that everyone gets a chance to heal. I hope I can heal. Maybe telling your story is part of the healing process for victims of sexual assault. /15
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
She says she contracted a strain of HPV from Keenan, who didn’t use a condom when he raped her. Another reason for coming forward, she says, is because she later heard Keenan rapes underage girls frequently while on tour.
Later on, I heard from a male friend that he did this in every city, at every show. He preferred underage girls (or as close to underage as he could get). What happened to me has likely happened to a lot of underage girls by this same man. /17
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
I've carried a sense of deep shame from this assault for many years. I thought it was my fault. How could I let him do this to me? But he was 36. I was 17. He knew exactly what he was getting away with. What could I have done differently? My body was paralyzed. #MeToo
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
Now that I am approaching the age that Maynard James Keenan was when he assaulted me, the thought of assaulting a 17 year old is completely unthinkable. Just *unthinkable*. We have to train men to think rape is as unthinkable as cannibalism. #MeToo
— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 23, 2018
Since the victim’s story began going viral, plenty of others have come forward with similar stories on both Twitter and Reddit.
Sexual Assault Allegations against Maynard James Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle from r/indieheads
It’s absolutely horrifying to think of how often this has happened — because of Keenan and other men just like him, taking advantage of their fandom to perpetuate abuse.
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1011307366401363969#metoo
— Dingledoddies@gmail.com (@Dingledoddiesg1) June 26, 2018
A Perfect Circle tour November 6, 2003, Tampa, FL.
Maynard James Keenan and Twiggy Ramirez invited me back to the hotel, A high-rise in downtown Tampa, booked under another name which I had to use to get upstairs. Maynard tried to rape me.
Keenan has responded to the claims, denying them in a defensive and condescending tweet.
Many thanks to those of you who saw right through this despicable false claim that only does damage to the #metoo movement. And shame on those of you who perpetuate this destructive clickbait. As for my delayed but un-required response, I had my phone off. You should try it.
— Maynard J Keenan (@mjkeenan) June 28, 2018
The victim is asking anyone else who has been assaulted or raped by Maynard James Keenan to come forward and share their story with her.
I won't be checking notifications or DMs here anymore. If Maynard James Keenan sexually assaulted you, please get in touch: cclipper429@gmail.com
A few have already shared. The list is growing. #MeToo #TimesUp https://t.co/dtsKimQuLH— Iwas17HeWas36 (@IWas17HeWas36) June 27, 2018