Former Kasabian rocker Tom Meighan is facing calls for an upcoming gig in London to be axed after the musician was convicted of assaulting his now-wife
An MP is calling for Tom Meighan’s gig to be cancelled. The former Kasabian frontman was convicted of assaulting his fiancée, now wife, Vikki Ager, who he married a year after the incident.
Meighan, 45, fronted the legendary Leicestershire rock band from 1997 until he was sacked in 2020. He stepped down, by mutual consent, on July 6, and the day after, he pleaded guilty to assaulting his fiancée on April 9, 2020.
The band said: “As soon as we found out about the charges made against Tom, we as a band made the decision that we could no longer work with him. Ultimately, as much as Tom hurt us all, we’re not the victims in all of this. Domestic violence is something that can never be excused.” He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and complete five days of rehabilitation.
After his conviction, Tom said on X, then known as Twitter: “I am very sorry and deeply regret my recent behaviour. In no way am I trying to condone my actions or make excuses. I am completely to blame and accept all responsibility.”
Since the decision to axe Tom from the line-up, he’s gone on to forge a solo career, including tours across the nation. But now, Labour MP Fleur Anderson has slammed the decision to have Tom perform a sold-out gig at The Half Moon in Putney, South London, run by the brewery Young’s.
She claims that locals in her Putney constituency have contacted her with concerns about Tom’s upcoming gig. Ms Anderson accused the pub chain of “providing a platform to an individual with a conviction for domestic abuse”.
Writing to the CEO of Young’s, Simon Dodd, Ms Anderson said: “At a time when there is a strong national and local focus on supporting victims of domestic abuse and encouraging reporting, platforming this individual raises serious concerns about the message this sends to survivors in the community.
“I would also ask that you give careful consideration to these concerns and whether any further action is appropriate,” reports the Evening Standard. However, a spokesperson for Young’s told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that although they understand the severity of Tom’s past and conviction, they also recognise that people can move forward, having shown change and accountability.
They said in a statement: “Young’s recognises the strength of feeling surrounding this matter and we appreciate hearing the views of those who care deeply about The Half Moon and the wider community.
“Young’s does not in any way condone domestic abuse, and we fully acknowledge the seriousness of Mr Meighan’s past actions. In reaching our decision to proceed with the event, we have considered the fact that he accepted responsibility for his actions in a court of law and served his sentence in the community.
“He has also issued a public apology and has taken steps towards rehabilitation. Whilst this does not diminish the seriousness of what occurred, we also respect the principle that individuals should have the opportunity to move forward with their lives after demonstrating accountability and change. Having reflected on these factors, and the views of our customers and colleagues, we took the decision that the performance should go ahead as planned.
“We understand that some people may disagree with this decision and we have heard and respect those views. The Half Moon remains committed to ensuring our venue is a safe, respectful and welcoming space for customers, artists and our teams alike, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with us.”
One year after the assault on his fiancée, Tom and Vikki went on to marry one another. In a joint statement, the couple said: “We are pleased to share the news that on Tuesday the 13th July 2021, Tom Meighan and Vikki Ager were married at Market Harborourgh Registry Office, Leicester.
“It was an intimate affair, in accordance with the latest Covid-19 guidelines, with the couple becoming husband and wife surrounded by their children, family and a few close friends.
“Tom has worked so hard on himself, his health, family unit and his relationship with Vikki over the past year. They are very much in love and looking forward to sharing the rest of their lives together.”
The Mirror has approached Tom’s spokesperson for comment.
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