Avi Zahner-Isenberg — the frontman and namesake of California indie group Avi Buffalo — has been accused of multiple incidents of rape, as well as emotional abuse and harassment, by former bandmate Rebecca Coleman.
Last night (July 28), Coleman — who now plays in the band Pageants — made the claims against Zahner-Isenberg in a lengthy Instagram post, detailing how she met the songwriter also known as Avi Buffalo when they were both teenagers. After joining Zahner-Isenberg's band in 2006, Coleman said she started dating him in 2008 when she was 17, with the relationship then falling into an on-again, off-again pattern, as well as one that was riddled with abuse.
"I don't even know how long we were truly together since he had broken it off so many times," Coleman writes.
In the post, she claims he both emotionally abused her and cheated on her, leading Coleman to ultimately get back together with ex-boyfriend Devin O'Brien, who later joined Avi Buffalo and currently plays with Coleman in Pageants.
The first alleged rape took place on April 22, 2009, according to Coleman. While she was dating O'Brien at the time, she alleges Zahner-Isenberg invited her to a photo shoot, where the alleged incident occurred.
"When Avi opened the door he began immediately undressing me," she writes. "I agreed to fool around but made it very clear that we were not going to have sex."
Coleman claims sexual intercourse was forced upon her, with Zahner-Isenberg telling her the next day, "I know, I raped you and stuff, I'm sorry."
A second incident of rape is alleged to have occurred after Avi Buffalo signed to Sub Pop and went on a tour with Beach House. In her post, she describes the second rape in detail, as well as other abusive behaviours she experienced.
"I wanted to scream but we were in his sister's apartment so I held back while tears ran down my face," Coleman writes in part of the second incident. "I asked him what he thought he was doing and he said something to the effect of, 'Sorry, I thought that's what you wanted."
Coleman left Avi Buffalo in 2010 and the band eventually broke up in 2015. According to Coleman, "Upon my exit from the band I signed a contract not to talk negatively about Avi/Avi Buffalo, etc. I do not know if this contract still stands, but honestly, I do not give a fuck. Time's Up."
You can find Coleman's entire post below.
UPDATE (7/30, 12 p.m. ET): In response to the allegations, Sub Pop is now pulling Avi Buffalo's music from streaming services, as well as from physical retailers.
Zahner-Isenberg has not publicly responded to the allegations. As of press time, no charges have been laid and no allegations have been proven in court.
The allegations come in the wake of multiple abuse claims involving the California indie music scene, including various misconduct claims surrounding Burger Records and acts such as the Growlers and SWMRS, among many others.
Last night (July 28), Coleman — who now plays in the band Pageants — made the claims against Zahner-Isenberg in a lengthy Instagram post, detailing how she met the songwriter also known as Avi Buffalo when they were both teenagers. After joining Zahner-Isenberg's band in 2006, Coleman said she started dating him in 2008 when she was 17, with the relationship then falling into an on-again, off-again pattern, as well as one that was riddled with abuse.
"I don't even know how long we were truly together since he had broken it off so many times," Coleman writes.
In the post, she claims he both emotionally abused her and cheated on her, leading Coleman to ultimately get back together with ex-boyfriend Devin O'Brien, who later joined Avi Buffalo and currently plays with Coleman in Pageants.
The first alleged rape took place on April 22, 2009, according to Coleman. While she was dating O'Brien at the time, she alleges Zahner-Isenberg invited her to a photo shoot, where the alleged incident occurred.
"When Avi opened the door he began immediately undressing me," she writes. "I agreed to fool around but made it very clear that we were not going to have sex."
Coleman claims sexual intercourse was forced upon her, with Zahner-Isenberg telling her the next day, "I know, I raped you and stuff, I'm sorry."
A second incident of rape is alleged to have occurred after Avi Buffalo signed to Sub Pop and went on a tour with Beach House. In her post, she describes the second rape in detail, as well as other abusive behaviours she experienced.
"I wanted to scream but we were in his sister's apartment so I held back while tears ran down my face," Coleman writes in part of the second incident. "I asked him what he thought he was doing and he said something to the effect of, 'Sorry, I thought that's what you wanted."
Coleman left Avi Buffalo in 2010 and the band eventually broke up in 2015. According to Coleman, "Upon my exit from the band I signed a contract not to talk negatively about Avi/Avi Buffalo, etc. I do not know if this contract still stands, but honestly, I do not give a fuck. Time's Up."
You can find Coleman's entire post below.
UPDATE (7/30, 12 p.m. ET): In response to the allegations, Sub Pop is now pulling Avi Buffalo's music from streaming services, as well as from physical retailers.
Zahner-Isenberg has not publicly responded to the allegations. As of press time, no charges have been laid and no allegations have been proven in court.
The allegations come in the wake of multiple abuse claims involving the California indie music scene, including various misconduct claims surrounding Burger Records and acts such as the Growlers and SWMRS, among many others.
