Max Bemis Accused of Messaging 17-Year-Old for 6 Months as Screenshots Surface

Say Anything has postponed upcoming performances by frontman Max Bemis after a 17-year-old alleged that the musician engaged in inappropriate conversations with her over about six months.

The allegations were published on the Say Anything subreddit alongside screenshots that the poster said showed her interactions with Bemis, 42. She alleged that Bemis knew she was under 18 when they began communicating around March and that their conversations later became increasingly personal.

The band's announcement said Bemis would take time away to focus on his mental health and personal wellbeing. It did not directly address the allegations but came after the posts began circulating online. Refunds are available to ticket-holders through their original points of purchase.

Allegations Detail Online Conversations

According to the Reddit post, Bemis gave the teenager his phone number and discussed relationships and sexual subjects with her, including sex toys and masturbation. She also said she had previously experienced exploitation and discussed her vulnerabilities with him.

The screenshots have circulated across other social media platforms, but their authenticity and context have not been independently established. Bemis had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of writing.

The allegations have also prompted other young fans to share accounts of alleged interactions with the musician. One 19-year-old fan posted screenshots purportedly showing a conversation in which Bemis discussed attraction to younger people.

According to music reports, the fan raised concerns about their age difference, while Bemis allegedly described attraction to younger people as a common sexual preference. The screenshots have not been independently authenticated.

Say Anything Postpones Performances

Say Anything announced that Bemis' upcoming performances had been postponed, saying he needed to prioritise his health and asking fans to respect his privacy.

Reports said the affected dates included solo acoustic performances scheduled for late August and September. The band did not announce replacement dates but said refunds would be available through the original points of purchase.

The postponement followed the publication of the allegations online, although the band's statement did not give a reason connected to the claims. Instead, it focused on Bemis' mental health and personal wellbeing.

Bemis had been scheduled to perform a series of solo shows shortly after the allegations emerged. His decision to step away means the immediate future of those performances remains uncertain.

The situation has also affected a separate music project involving the Say Anything frontman.

Wavves Album Release Disrupted

The fallout has also affected Cherry Soda, a collaborative album involving Bemis and Wavves frontman Nathan Williams that was due for release on 18 September.

Williams discussed the project in messages shared with fans on Patreon. Stereogum reported that he did not want to remain professionally associated with Bemis and was considering re-recording the album without his contributions.

Williams said about 10,000 physical copies had already been pressed, potentially leaving him facing a substantial financial loss. He also described difficulties during production and said he had spent considerably more time working on the record than Bemis.

The 10-track album was announced in July as a collaboration between Wavves and Say Anything, with Williams and Bemis credited as co-writers. It was due to be released through I Surrender Records.

For now, Bemis has stepped away from his scheduled performances, while the future of Cherry Soda remains uncertain.