Chvrches Call Out Marshmello for Working with Chris Brown and Tyga

Chvrches—who recently collaborated with EDM producer Marshmello on the song “Here With Me”—have released a statement decrying the producer’s new track featuring Tyga and Chris Brown, “Light It Up.”

“We are really upset, confused and disappointed by Marshmello’s choice to work with Tyga and Chris Brown,” the band wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. “We like and respect Mello as a person but working with people who are predators and abusers enables, excuses and ultimately tacitly endorses that behavior. That is not something we can or will stand behind.”

In 2009, Brown was arrested for the felony assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna. He completed a probation sentence in that case in 2015. Since then, Brown has faced weapons charges as well as a civil suit by a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted while on his property.

In January 2019, Chris Brown was arrested in Paris, France after a woman filed a report of aggravated rape against him. The singer subsequently denied the allegations, was released from police custody, and authorized to leave France while an investigation was conducted. He also filed a countersuit against his accuser for defamation.

In 2015, Tyga was criticized for lyrics alluding to sexual liasons with then-girlfriend Kylie Jenner, who was 17 at the time. His song “Pleazer” featured the line, “T nasty, 'bout to catch a felony for it/Vagina juice like orange juice in the mornin'.” (California law defines “statutory rape” or “unlawful sex with a minor” as the act of any individual having sexual intercourse with another individual under the age of 18.)

In 2016, a 14-year-old girl claimed she had “uncomfortable” communication with Tyga over Instagram, and that she cut off contact with him once he asked to meet her in person. At the time, the rapper’s manager stated that the girl had falsely communicated that she was 17, and that Tyga had only contacted her about her music.

When reached by Pitchfork, representatives for Chvrches offered no further comment. Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for Marshmello for comment.