• News

• All

Oct 13, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Ducktails

In May 2016 Real Estate announced that Matt Mondanile had left the band to focus on his Ducktails project. Real Estate went on to release a new album without Mondanile, In Mind, in March of this year via Domino. Meanwhile this month Mondanile self-released a new Ducktails album, Jersey Devil, on his own New Images label (he was previously also on Domino). Now both Pitchfork and SPIN are reporting that Real Estate has issued a statement that Mondanile was actually fired from the band “in February 2016 when allegations of unacceptable treatment of women were brought to our attention.” SPIN also has a statement from an unnamed former publicist of Mondanile who says they no longer work with him because they also got wind of similar allegations.

Real Estate’s full statement is as follows: “Matt Mondanile was fired in February 2016 when allegations of unacceptable treatment of women were brought to our attention. While we urged him to seek counseling at the time of termination, we are no longer in contact. We feel that any abuse of one’s power or status to victimize another is completely unacceptable. We applaud the courage of the women who came forward to make us aware so that we could address the issue head on.”

The unnamed publicist had this to say: “When I heard these allegations I spoke with the label and told them I could no longer work with him. The label suggested they would be doing the same. The band firing came later I believe. That was the end of my dealings with him. We never had contact again. He unfollowed me on social media, etc.”

Pitchfork says they spoke to Mondanile, who “denied any wrongdoing.” SPIN say they have a more in-depth article in the works that includes stories from multiple women and that Mondanile has asked them to delay the longer article until he’s been given a chance to get on the phone with them and respond to the allegations.

Support Under the Radar on Patreon.