WARNING: This article includes accounts of sexual assault and may be distressing for some readers. Resources for support are listed at the end of this article
Three women have accused jazz keyboardist and producer Kamaal Williams of sexual assault in an investigation by Resident Advisor’s Anu Shukla and Annabel Ross published yesterday (May 22).
The report details the experiences of three alleged victims spanning over a decade, with incidents described as having taken place in 2010, 2021 and August 2023.
The names of each of the women have been changed to keep their identities anonymous. The report claims that the women don’t know each other – despite detailing similar accounts of sexual assault and coercive behaviour within the investigation.
Resident Advisor spoke to second-hand witnesses and reviewed text and email conversations from all three women as part of its investigation — including a statement filed to the Metropolitan Police in 2020 from one of the women and an email from the Met confirming the date she had reported the alleged sexual assault in 2020 and a further video statement given in 2021.
A representative for Kamaal Williams told Resident Advisor that the “very serious allegations are untrue and emphatically denied by him and that he will be able to demonstrate the same.”
Following the investigation, several artists have come forward detailing their own alleged experiences with Williams.
Rhythm Section label head Bradley Zero shared on his Instagram story that the allegations were “thoroughly shocking but sadly not surprising. I have personally and collectively (as a label head and promoter) also been involved in violent confrontations with this man.”
Shygirl similarly shared the RA investigation to her Instagram story, writing: “Finally. This person’s behaviour was well known to me and he had threatened members of my team.”
“I had refused to play a festival he was on the lineup on after notifying them of his behaviour ahead of time and unfortunately some of you may remember I was forced to cancel last minute in Poland as they not only had kept him on the line-up but his dressing room was next to mine.
“After the festival owner got his wife to speak to me ‘woman to woman’ to try and persuade me to act against my morals and stay supporting a festival that did not prioritise my safety or that of my team — I left. I’m glad these women found the support and courage to come forward and I hope they continue to be supported.”
You can read Resident Advisor’s full investigation here.
AFEM sponsor a confidential support service for anyone affected by sexual harassment within the Electronic Music Industry
Health Assured provide the service to ensure confidential expert counselling
A safe and supportive environment for anyone who has been affected and needs guidance and support
Call 0800 030 5182, (Outside the UK: +44 800 030 5182) where trained experts will listen and support
Megan Townsend is Mixmag’s Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
