Category: news

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  • BREAKING: Slam Dunk Festival Director Steps Down Following Assault Allegations

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    The UK alternative music scene has been rocked to its core. In a stunning fall from grace, the organizers behind the Slam Dunk Festival—the crown jewel of the UK’s pop-punk and hardcore calendar—have officially announced that a high-ranking director has agreed to step down. While the official statement stops short of naming him, the move comes less than 48 hours after founder Ben Ray was publicly accused of multiple counts of sexual assault and rape in a series of harrowing social media posts.

    For a festival built on community and “safe spaces,” these allegations are more than just a legal hurdle; they are an existential crisis. With the massive 20th-anniversary event featuring Good Charlotte and Sublime just weeks away, the scene is left wondering who is actually steering the ship.

    “The Director Has Agreed to Step Down”: Breaking Down the Statement

    Addressing the “distressing” nature of the news, the Slam Dunk board didn’t mince words in their formal address today. They acknowledged the trauma these reports have caused fans, artists, and staff alike. While the board emphasized that the individual in question “strongly refutes” the claims, the decision for him to walk away was made “in consultation with the board” to prevent the festival from becoming a total lightning rod for controversy.

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    The full official company statement from Slam Dunk Festival:

    “COMPANY STATEMENT: WE ARE AWARE OF ALLEGATIONS PUBLISHED YESTERDAY RELATING TO ONE OF OUR DIRECTORS. WE TAKE THESE ALLEGATIONS SERIOUSLY AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY MAY BE DISTRESSING AND HARD TO PROCESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OUR SLAM DUNK FANS, STAFF, AND ARTISTS ARE, AS ALWAYS, OUR TOP PRIORITY. WHILE HE STRONGLY REFUTES THESE ALLEGATIONS, THE DIRECTOR IN QUESTION HAS AGREED, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD, TO STEP DOWN FROM SLAM DUNK OPERATIONS WHILE THIS MATTER IS ONGOING. SLAM DUNK REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING A SAFE, RESPECTFUL, AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, AND CUSTOMERS. OUR VALUES AND CULTURE ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO HOW WE OPERATE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THEM. IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR US TO COMMENT FURTHER ON AN ONGOING LEGAL MATTER. HOWEVER, WE PROMISE TRANSPARENCY AND HONESTY TO OUR SLAM DUNK COMMUNITY AND WILL PROVIDE UPDATES WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DO SO.”

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    The Allegations That Rocked the Scene

    The industry was ignited on April 23 when actress and performer Jenny Miller shared her story. This wasn’t just a vague accusation; it was a detailed account of a betrayal of trust. Miller alleged that Ray, whom she considered a “friend,” assaulted her on multiple occasions while she was incapacitated.

    More disturbing were the claims that Ray used his position at Slam Dunk as a lure, allegedly offering Miller professional roles involving VIP operations at the festival. For many in the UK scene, Ben Ray is Slam Dunk. He launched the brand as a club night in 2006 and built it into a multi-million-pound empire. Seeing that empire’s founder step down under these specific circumstances is a “Where were you?” moment for the British rock community.

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    The 20th Anniversary: Can the Music Continue?

    Slam Dunk is currently in the 11th hour of preparation for its biggest year yet. With Hatfield and Leeds set to host thousands of fans next month, the organizers are now tasked with the impossible: running a massive international operation while their founder sits at the center of a legal firestorm.

    As the matter moves into the hands of lawyers, the focus remains on the survivors and the safety of the fans. Slam Dunk has built its reputation on being “by the fans, for the fans.” Whether that reputation survives the summer of 2026 remains to be seen.

    For continuous coverage on this developing story and the potential impact on the 2026 festival season, stay locked into the Loaded Radio live stream and the Loaded Radio Podcast.

    TL;DR: The “Slam Dunk” Crisis at a Glance

    • The Exit: A Slam Dunk director (confirmed to be founder Ben Ray) has officially stepped down from all festival operations.
    • The Allegations: Performer Jenny Miller publicly accused Ray of multiple counts of sexual assault and rape, alleging he used his industry position to facilitate the abuse.
    • The Defense: The official board statement claims the director “strongly refutes” the allegations but is stepping aside as the matter moves into legal channels.
    • The Festival: Slam Dunk 2026 is still scheduled to proceed next month, but leadership is in a state of emergency.

     
     
     
     
     
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    A post shared by Slam Dunk Festival (@slamdunkmusic)

    The post BREAKING: Slam Dunk Festival Director Steps Down Following Assault Allegations appeared first on Loaded Radio.

  • Pupil Slicer & Tayne – “W.N.”

    London metal experimentalists Pupil Slicer dropped their album Fleshwork last year. Today they’ve teamed up with the industrial noise pop act Tayne, also from London, on a single called “W.N.” It’s a hefty industrial track with eerie vocals, a compulsively listenable synth loop, and unhealthy amounts of of searing bombast. The B-side for “W.N.” is…

    The post Pupil Slicer & Tayne – “W.N.” appeared first on Stereogum.