A woman claims that after leaving a bar with a man she had met, she was raped behind a factory. She files a police report and later gets an admission out of him via email which she uses in the case against him. This man, a member of a touring band, is arrested following a show. His bands fans immediately show their support of him.

Another man goes to the home of a woman he previously had a thing with. The woman’s new man, angry at the way this he’s dealing with his feelings, confronts him. After words are shared the new man follows the other to an underground parking lot and in a fight is killed. It turns out the man who killed the other is in another popular band and once his fans catch wind of what happened begin rallying support for him as well. Eventually he gets off on a self-defense clause.

These are the stories of Dominic Davi of Love Equals Death, and Tony Lovato formerly of Mest respectably. Both news breaks occurring within the same week.

These are both terrible tragedies, no matter what exactly happened. A woman was raped and a man was killed, terrible harrowing tragedies for everyone immediately involved. But at what point does a fan have any say about the truth of the matter? So many fan brats go out of their way to show various signs of trust in the accused, and show faith in their innocence.

It’s scary is what it is.

Cries of their idols innocence. Throwing insults and slurs at the victims. All without having any honest information aside from the news blurb they may or may not have read. None of them were there, and yet they’re so convinced of the ‘truth’ without even knowing the person for whom they praise nor the victim whom they scorn.

It’s disgusting, this “Free Kobe” type shit. If they are innocent, truly innocent, then my heart goes out to them. But how are we to know for sure? In Lovato’s case he was proven to have acted in self-defense. Many people let out a sigh in relief. The man they don’t know didn’t outright murder.

But he still held the knife, and no matter the situation he is responsible for the death of another man. I’m not saying he’s heartless and unaffected. He, more than anyone else, is most destroyed by what happened. He must live with the knowledge that he killed someone. Everyone around him or the victim must live with the knowledge that an atrocity had occurred.

But the fans? Feel free to dust yourselves off from your internet battles with the self-fulfilled knowledge that you helped free a man of his burden. Even though you don’t have to live with it, and have no idea what it’s really like.

The woman who claimed she was raped by Davi waited a while before filing a report. Whatever the reason, and whether the act actually occurred, is not up for debate. No matter the situation lives are destroyed because of this. Reputations are ruined. Even the woman who, whether Davi is accused or not, will be looked down upon by so many.

It’s unfair.

It’s unfair that we hold a talented individual above the rest. It’s unfair that we scorn those who ‘choose’ to challenge their place and actions. It is not up to the fans to decide amongst themselves what actions should or should not take place (whatever their bearing on the situation may be) and it’s completely asinine of them, or anyone but those put in charge of the case or those involved, to assume that they have any true knowledge of the actions that occurred or people involved. To think otherwise is unreasonable and deplorable.

Notoriety does mean you are above acting as an independent human. Fame does not excuse actions. And just because you like someone does not exempt them from anything.

At least, not in the world I pretend to live in.

Dominic Davi’s arrested
Tony Lovato arrested
Tony Lovato released

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