Ian McNabb, a singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the 1980s with The Icicle Works, has found himself in some hot water after defending Russell Brand.
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Brand, 51, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on Monday, November 9. He was found guilty of raping one man and sexually abusing three others. However, McNabb seemingly took issue with Brand's situation and took to
social media to defend the comedian."I know people who were in his orbit and girls were throwing themselves at him every night. If that happened to me I know what I'd do," McNabb wrote. "If you want to hang out with the artist don't cry when you're in the picture. All the chicks who turn up at these situations know exactly what's going on. The ones who decided they were done badly to - ten years after the event - are the worst."
McNabb then suggested that Brand was being "stitched up" for his outspoken nature. Of course, McNabb's post instantly garnered backlash online. Social media users were both shocked and disappointed with McNabb coming to the defense of Brand, especially after the guilty verdicts had been passed.
A Promoter Canceled Ian McNabb's Upcoming Solo Shows
McNabb was scheduled to begin a solo tour around the UK. However, following his defense of Brand, Renegade Communications canceled multiple dates on that tour. Ewan McNaught, Renegade's communications director,
released a statement about the situation."I hate canceling gigs, and it's the first time in my career that I've had to do it, but not only can I not defend Ian McNabb's disgraceful social media comments in support of Russell Brand, as a husband and a father of a young daughter, I simply can't work with him moving forward," McNaught wrote.
McNaught then shared that Renegade's shows weren't the only ones to be canceled.
"I've spoken to his agent and to the venues, and we're all on the same page on this, and these won't be the only shows on his tour that are canceled. I'm told another five were canceled today."
McNabb responded to the backlash, and his canceled shows via a social media post, which has since been deleted.
"In no way did I mean to cause offence to those who have been abused sexually either recently or in past times, however long ago," he wrote, via Penn Live. "I have committed no crime to my knowledge, but understand the upset I have caused. I condemn the treatment of women for sexual pleasure that is not consensual, I condemn the predatory nature of males who do so. Sorry to those who have bought tickets and feel let down, I now enter a period of self-reflection and contemplation."
It will be interesting to see whether McNabb can earn any goodwill back from his fanbase. For now, though, his solo tour might be over before it begins.
