The Gaslamp Killer Drops Defamation Suit Against Rape Accuser

A joint statement expresses their "mutual desire to move on with their lives"

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jul 30, 2019

The Gaslamp Killer has dropped his defamation lawsuit against a woman who claimed that he raped her in 2013.

As Pitchfork points out, the L.A.-based producer born William Bensussen and the accuser, Chelsea Tadros, shared a joint statement on their respective social media accounts announcing their decision, writing that "it is their mutual desire to move on with their lives and put this lawsuit behind them."

The statement reads as follows:

Mr. Bensussen discussed with Ms. Tadros the events of July 5, 2013 to understand the basis for her Twitter post on October 12, 2017. Mr. Bensussen did this in good faith as an earnest effort to resolve this issue. After their discussions, Ms. Tadros acknowledges she does not know who drugged her, and both parties recognize that Ms. Tadros could have been drugged by one of the many attendees that were present on July 5, 2013.

Ms. Tadros continues to maintain that she was drugged and thereby unable to consent on July 5, 2013. Mr. Bensussen maintains that he has never drugged or raped anyone, and that he did not have any indication that Ms. Tadros was drugged or unable to consent. Furthermore, had Mr. Bensussen known or believed that Ms. Tadros did not or was unable to consent, he would not have engaged in any sexual activity.


The statement concludes, "no money was exchanged as part of the settlement, and the parties will not be commenting any further. The parties ask that their supporters show respect and compassion for this decision and for the other side." You can find it below.

Tadros first came forward with her allegations against Bensussen in October of 2017, recalling how she and her friend RaeAn Medina met the artist at a at the Standard Hotel in Los Angeles on July 5, 2013. Tadros claimed she and Medina were drugged by Bensussen, who proceeded to have non-consensual sex with them while they were incapacitated.

Bensussen denied the allegations in a statement that same month, and was reported to have filed the defamation suit in November of 2017. His lawsuit against Medina was dismissed in March of 2018.

Speaking with Pitchfork, Bensussen's lawyer Parag Amin said, "Both sides have made documents publicly available in this case, including declarations from witnesses so I invite all of your readers to review them before forming an opinion about this case. Regarding the statement, yes, it's completely true and correct, and it speaks for itself."

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