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Deryck Whibley insists he’s ‘not a liar’ after ex-manager denies sexual coercion claims

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Deryck Whibley insists he's 'not a liar' after ex-manager denies sexual coercion claims

As a longtime Sum 41 fan and someone who has followed Deryck Whibley‘s journey for years, I find myself deeply moved by his courage to share his harrowing story of abuse at the hands of their former manager, Greig Nori. His memoir, “Walking Disaster,” serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of speaking out against injustice.

As a film critic, I’m reiterating the assertions made by Deryck Whibley, lead vocalist of Sum 41, who has been vocal about his allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of the band’s former manager.

In his recently published memoir titled “Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell,” Whibley alleges that the producer-musician Greig Nori manipulated and sexually exploited him over a prolonged period, starting when Whibley was just 16 years old and Nori was 34.

Nori clarified that he didn’t “force” or “initiate” a relationship with Whibley; instead, he stated to the Toronto Star last week, “The claim that I started things is untrue. It was Whibley who took the lead, quite assertively.

In his statement, he mentioned that “their relationship started when Whibley was already an adult,” and as time went by, their connection “gradually weakened on its own accord, consensually.” Regarding the accusations of grooming or sexual misconduct, Nori chose not to comment directly.

In a Tuesday video on X, Whibley replied to Nori’s comment by expressing that this week has been exceptionally tough for him.

It appears Greig Nori has labeled me as untruthful. Allow me to clarify, I wholeheartedly support each and every statement made in my book, without any reservation whatsoever. To set the record straight, I am not and will never be a deceiver.

Whibley stated, “I’ll address you straight-up, Greig Nori. If you believe me to be dishonest, the only method to prove it is through an oath. In court, in front of a judge and jury, at any time you choose. I’m prepared whenever you are.

Neither Nori nor Whibley’s representative provided an immediate response when approached by The Times for a comment.

In “Walking Disaster,” Whibley narrates their initial encounter, which transpired during a Treble Charger show, where Nori, the aspiring musician, secretly made his way backstage to extend an invitation for Whibley to attend one of Sum 41’s future concerts.

Initially, Nori served as both Deryck Whibley’s vocal coach and Sum 41’s manager. At the outset, it appeared that Nori was instrumental in launching the band, but over time, he expressed a desire for complete authority, as noted by Whibley himself.

In simpler terms, Whibley stated to The Times recently before his memoir release that we could only confide in him because the music industry is known for being deceitful and full of treachery, making him the only trustworthy person we encountered.

As an ardent cinema enthusiast, let me share a tale from my past – when I was eighteen, the enigmatic Nori took his first step towards me, a fellow junior musician. In a rather unexpected setting, we found ourselves confined within the four walls of a bathroom stall. In his memoir, I penned down that he leaned in and passionately kissed me.

In the book, it’s stated that Whibley claimed Nori defended his actions as a means of exploring queer identity, something many rock stars were hesitant to delve into during that period. Later on, when Whibley tried to halt their physical interactions, Nori allegedly reacted angrily, labeling Whibley “homophobic” and asserting he owed him for launching his music career, as described in the memoir.

The sexual relationship between the duo concluded when a shared acquaintance discovered the truth, according to Whibley’s narrative. This friend, alongside Avril Lavigne (a previous partner of Whibley) and his wife of 10 years, model Ariana Cooper, all informed him that what he experienced was “mistreatment.

Later on, Sum 41 eventually ended their association with Nori, as stated by Whibley. However, the lead singer didn’t disclose the alleged mistreatment to his bandmates. Instead, they learned about it just like everyone else – through his memoir.

Initially, when Whibley started composing “Walking Disaster,” he expressed concern that others might say, “This is all your doing.” However, he ultimately chose not to restrain himself in the creative process. (This version aims to keep the original meaning while making it more engaging and easier to read.)

He mentioned that at some stage, he found himself thinking, ‘I no longer mind what others might interpret from it.’ In fact, this was his sole approach while penning the book.

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2024-10-17 02:01

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