Megadeth Bassist David Ellefson Ousted After Sexual Misconduct Accusations

Megadeth fired longtime bassist and co-founder David Ellefson on Monday after Ellefson became once accused of grooming a girl for intercourse whereas she became once underage.

Final week explicit movies of Ellefson, 56, were leaked online and shared on Twitter. The leaks included movies of Ellefson masturbating and moreover showed screenshots of texts between Ellefson and a fan who became once 19 years frail. Social media users then began alleging that Ellefson persuaded the 19-yr-frail girl staunch into a sexual relationship by grooming her whereas she became once underage. Ellefson has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Ellefson and his representatives did now not at once acknowledge to TheWrap’s question for commentary.

Ellefson addressed the self-discipline in a commentary posted on his social media accounts Could per chance per chance 10, but he deleted every his Twitter and Instagram pages final week. Loudwire reported final week Ellefson admitted the leaks were copies of his “inside of most and inside of most conversations” and talked about they were “grownup interactions that were taken out of context.”

In a since-deleted Instagram put up, Ellefson elaborated: “As powerful as it’s now not one thing I’m pleased with, these were inside of most, grownup interactions that were taken out of context and manipulated to inflict most wound to my reputation, my profession and household. The opposite occasion fervent has made a commentary which it is doubtless you’ll presumably look… I thank her for doing so and hope that this clarifies that the salvage 22 situation became once beneath no circumstances as provided.”

In accordance to the Los Angeles Instances, the girl answered to the controversy and talked about in an Instagram put up that’s since been deleted that the interactions she had with Ellefson were consensual and that she became once “by no formulation” underage.

Megadeth addressed the allegations when they first came to gentle and talked about in a commentary final week, “we dwell awake for the truth coming to gentle.”

Dave Mustaine, the team’s guitarist and singer, announced Ellefson’s departure from the band in a Twitter put up Monday.

“We are informing our fans that David Ellefson will not be any longer fiddling with Megadeth and that we’re officially parting systems with him,” Mustaine wrote. “We attain now not exhaust this decision lightly. While we attain now not know every notify of what came about, with an already strained relationship, what has already been printed now may per chance presumably be ample to enjoy working collectively unimaginable shifting forward. We dwell awake for seeing our fans on the road this summer, and we are able to now not wait to portion our contemporary music with the sphere. It is far quite total.”

Mustaine and Ellefson co-founded Megadeth in 1983. When Megadeth temporarily broke up in 2002 Mustaine released a solo album below the Megadeth title called “The Design Has Failed,” which caused a large feud with Ellefson who argued he legally owned the band’s title. Mustaine and Ellefson ultimately buried the hatchet and Ellefson rejoined the band in 2010. On the time he rejoined the band Ellefson told The Pogg, “having that time away created a realization for every of us that, whereas we’re every productive personally, Megadeth is unquestionably stronger with every of us in it collectively.

Megadeth will return to touring this August on its North American Metal Tour of the Year without Ellefson.

Strive Mustaine and Megadeth’s fats commentary beneath.