MEGADETH has commented on the situation involving bassist Dave Ellefson and his apparent ‘intimate involvement’, via video, with a woman other than his wife.
Over the weekend, sexually explicit video footage involving the 56-year-old musician were leaked on Twitter. Yesterday morning, Ellefson released a statement on Instagram calling the situation “embarrassing” yet denied any assumptions that he had been “grooming” an underage fan.
On Monday evening, MEGADETH issued the following statement: “We are aware of the recent statements regarding David Ellefson, and are watching developments closely.
“As it relates to creativity and business, we are all familiar with one another. However, there are clearly aspects of David’s private life that he has kept to himself.
“As this situation unfolds, it is important that all voices be heard clearly and respectfully. We look forward to the truth coming to light.”
In his statement from yesterday, Ellefson wrote: “As you may or not know, some private and personal conversations and interactions have surfaced online, released with ill intention by a third party who was not authorized to have them or share them. While certainly embarrassing, I want to address it as openly and honestly as possible.
“As much as it’s not something I’m proud of, these were private, adult interactions that were taken out of context and manipulated to inflict maximum damage to my reputation, my career and family,” he continued. “The other party involved has made a statement which you can see below. I thank her for doing so and hope that this clarifies that the situation was not at all as presented.”
Ellefson’s statement was also accompanied by a message in the form of a social media post from the woman involved, admitted to recording the intimate moments and sharing them with a friend without Ellefson’s permission. She also claimed that the contact between her and Ellefson was “all consensual and all online.” She also called the rumors that she was “groomed” by Ellefson, “misinformation”, and claimed to be of legal age at the time.
“Yes, those video calls did happen, but I was the one to initiate it and never was I underage, I was always a consenting adult. Nothing inappropriate ever happened before that. It was all consensual, I’m not a victim and I have not been groomed in the slightest as I was the one to initiate it,” the woman stated.
David and his wife Julie Ellefson have been married for 27 years.
— Megadeth (@Megadeth) May 11, 2021