Kamaal Williams concerts in Leeds, Manchester, London and Bristol canceled following sexual assault allegations

Kamaal Williams’ concerts in Leeds, Manchester, London and Bristol have all been canceled following sexual assault allegations published yesterday (May 22).

The London electronic jazz musician (real name Henry Wu) has been accused of alleged sexual assault by three different women. As investigated by Resident AdvisorThe three unnamed women claimed to have been sexually assaulted by Williams in 2010, 2021 and 2023.

A representative for Williams shared a statement saying that “the very serious allegations are false and categorically denied by him and that he will be able to demonstrate the same” (per Resident Advisor).

A day after the investigation was published (May 23), Williams’ upcoming UK concerts were all canceled. The musician was due to play at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds this Saturday, May 25, as well as a show at Blues Kitchen Manchester (May 26), a three-night residency at London’s Jazz Cafe (May 29, 30 and 31). before concluding its tour at the Central Warehouse in Bristol (June 7).

NME contacted Williams for a response to the allegations.

Resident AdvisorThe investigation focused on three of Williams’ alleged victims, each of whom was unrelated but recounted similar alleged events.

The first woman claimed that when she was 17 in 2010, she met Williams – who was still known as Henry Wu at the time – through her then-boyfriend who was friends with the musician at the time.

While she and her boyfriend were on a break, she ran into Williams at a party where he allegedly made passes to kiss her several times. She claimed that the next day she found a scarf in her bag and posted on Facebook “Who put their scarf in my bag last night?” He is always there. »

The musician allegedly claimed it was his and invited her to his house to drop it off, saying his younger brother was home and couldn’t be left alone. The unnamed woman went on to claim that as soon as she arrived, he tried to kiss her, which she rejected, but eventually gave in and kissed him back.

Williams then allegedly “turned me around, pushed me against the wall against the coat racks, held his arm on my back and tried to pull down my leggings,” with the woman adding that he offered her a cup of tea to defuse the situation. She said he left for the kitchen and came back, sat next to her on the couch and tried to make advances to her again.

She claimed Williams raped her on the couch against her will. She added that she never reported the rape at the time, but “made it a point to tell people” about the encounter. She added that she was reluctant to use the word “rape” because of her young age and I think I didn’t quite understand what it was.

The second woman allegedly met Williams after he performed a show at a London radio station’s launch party in August 2021. She went on to claim that he blamed his actions on being autistic and alleged that he spiked his drink in a bar and didn’t do it. I remember everything that happened after that drink. However, she alleged that she woke up disoriented in her bed the next day.

Apparently, Williams met the woman the next day at a food stand to explain to her what happened that night. Claiming he needed to retrieve something from her car, Williams allegedly “tied my arm very forcefully” to hers and offered to drop her off at her house.

When the woman apparently rejected his offer, asking him to take her to a nearby train station, Williams took her to his house with cans of nitrous oxide, where the woman claimed he insisted she inhale gas from a balloon. The woman claimed that even if she had verbally rejected his advances, Williams would have proceeded to rape her.

The third woman claimed to have met Williams in her native country in August 2023 and a second time in London that same year. She claimed she invited him out for drinks with friends, but he arrived in his car and wanted to go perform at a studio, also telling her he was autistic, which explained why he could act strangely .

She claimed that although she agreed to join him, she felt the “vibes died right away.” Reportedly in studio, Williams told the woman that he had never felt “that way about anyone and he really didn’t know how to deal with those feelings.” The woman went on to claim that she rejected his advances and decided to leave, but the musician insisted on driving her home.

Williams allegedly called the woman the next day to ask if she was angry with him. “I thought, ‘He’s on the spectrum and maybe I should give him a chance,'” she told the outlet. The woman continued to speak to the musician regularly while he was on tour, eventually agreeing to meet him in his hometown and reluctantly picking him up from the airport after he allegedly started giving her “real vibes.” asshole” by constantly calling him while she was with him. family.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Williams allegedly tried to kiss her in the elevator and she backed away. In the piece, the woman claimed she reluctantly let the musician kiss her, but she rejected his advances for anything else. “I kept telling him I didn’t want to do that. I said to myself, “Why can’t you accept that I’m uncomfortable? “, she said. The woman claimed he sexually assaulted her shortly afterward.

The three women’s accounts were confirmed by friends who spoke to Resident Advisor to corroborate their alleged assaults.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the United States, visit RAINN.