Well this is kinda disturbing. Just a few months after being sexually assaulted by a (now-former) member of Terror Universal, singer Otep Shamaya was nearly attacked by an audience member at a show in Belvedere, IL on June 7th. He rushed the stage, and she hit him with the microphone stand. He asked her to hit her him again and lunged at her again, and she complied. The singer reached out to Metal Sucks with a statement as follows:
“I’d like to thank everyone, all the fans and supporters, the venue and their security, who stood by me during the unfortunate altercation after our performance. Our shows do get wild and riotous but this was different. I apologize for all the blood but I was being physically threatened and had to defend myself. Thanks again for your unending support.”
According to staff and audience members, a man, described as very large and belligerently drunk, was attempting to instigate fights before the show, including harassing OTEP’s muscle-man guitar player, Aristotle. Later, this same man was seen throwing a young woman into the Monitor Board which resulted in a disruption of sound during OTEP’s set. After the show, as Otep was on stage inviting people to the meet & greet at the merch table, the same man screamed out that she was a “CUNT” and charged the stage. Fearing for her safety, she instinctively struck his head with her microphone. He screamed to hit him again and lunged at her and she struck him a second time. Security then removed him from the venue while he continued to scream insults at Otep.
Known for her advocacy against bullying and her stance regarding violence against women, Otep continues to defend equality and safety for all people, including her own.
Not having been there and not knowing the full version of events, tt seems like security might have been at fault. The guy probably should have been thrown out of the venue as soon as he hit the sound board. Rushing the stage is a no-no unless asked to, and she had every right to react the way she did, as far as we’re concerned.
