5 Seconds of Summer guitarist Michael Clifford has denied allegations he ‘inappropriately touched’ underage fans while on tour.
A Twitter user alleged on June 13 Michael had followed her into a bathroom and began touching her ‘chest, arms and sides’ while the Australian band were performing at Tinley Park, Illinois, in 2013.
The anonymous user, who claims she was 14 at the time, wrote: “Michael Clifford… slid into the audience – probably most would assume to enjoy the concert – and violated my safety and privacy.”
The social media user has since retracted the claims, however.
At the time, 5SOS were touring North America with One Direction as part of 1D’s Take Me Home tour.
5 Seconds of Summer guitarist Michael Clifford has denied allegations he ‘inappropriately touched’ underage fans while on tour (Image: FilmMagic)
Another Twitter user on June 13 also claimed ‘MC’ had reached up her miniskirt and ‘kept saying disgusting things into her ear’ at a 5SOS show.
The user also claimed she was 14 years old when the alleged incident occurred.
Clifford has denied the allegations, saying they are “beyond untrue”.
He tweeted on June 15: “I am heartbroken to read these things that are being said – they are just BEYOND untrue.
“I was never allowed in the crowd I only ever watched at front of house – and I would’ve never EVER done that. I would NEVER do anything like that.”
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Another tweet saw Michael comment on a video of the 5SOS band members surrounded by fans in the audience.
He wrote: “This is what life was like in 2013. Please understand it would’ve been logistically impossible for me to get through a crowd at a show I just played at!
“I’m not trying to be defensive I promise this is just so completely false.”
Responding to another Twitter user, Michael said of the allegations: “I really just don’t know what I can even say. People are asking me to explain but how can I explain something that I was never involved with in the first place?
“I truly want to give you what you’re asking from me but what more can I say?”
Adam Wilkinson, who managed the band at the time of the alleged incidents, defended Michael, tweeting: “I can confirm at all times that the band were never allowed into the crowd and were always escorted to front of house by security and/or management including myself.”
The girl who claimed Michael touched her ‘chest, arms and sides’ in the bathroom at the 2013 show in Illinois has since taken back her claims.
She tweeted on July 16 that the man who touched her was not Michael Clifford, and that the actual offender “is dead”.
She wrote: “Today, I found out I’ve been wrong for almost seven years. Today I found out that my offender is dead. My offender is NOT MICHAEL CLIFFORD.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
