Singer Rex Orange County faces shocking sexual assault charges

London, UK - Musician Rex Orange County has been charged with six counts of sexual assault after a woman accused him of attacking her multiple times in London.

Rex Orange County attends the 2020 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO in January 2020.
Rex Orange County attends the 2020 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO in January 2020.  © EMMA MCINTYRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

According to reports from The Sun, the 24-year-old singer, born Alex O'Connor, allegedly assaulted a woman twice in London's West End on June 1. The woman also accused O'Connor of assaulting her in a taxi and three times at his home in Notting Hill the next day.

O'Connor denied all charges in a London courtroom on Monday. A provisional trial date was set for January 3.

"Alex is shocked by the allegations which he denies and looks forward to clearing his name in court," a representative for the singer told the Los Angeles Times. "He is unable to make any further comment because of the ongoing proceedings."

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Months after releasing his album Apricot Princess in 2017, the British-born singer stepped into the spotlight as a special guest on Tyler, the Creator's album Flower Boy, appearing on the songs Boredom and Foreword. O'Connor recently performed at the Hollywood Bowl on June 2 on the heels of his third album Who Cares?, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Speaking with the Los Angeles Times in 2019, Rex Orange County reflected on his rapid ascent to fame.

"I can tell you all the bad things [about celebrity] — and I do on [Pony, his second album]," he said. "But without that stuff, I couldn't have filled the Roxy with two days' notice"

Fans react to the allegations with shock and disappointment

Rex Orange County poses for photos at the 2020 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO in January 2020.
Rex Orange County poses for photos at the 2020 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO in January 2020.  © Joshua Blanchard / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

News of the charges shocked fans of the singer, and many took to social media to express their outrage at their once-favorite artist.

Some described feeling floored by the disturbing news, especially considering the comfort and hope they had found in his music for so long.

"something really sickening about finding out the male artists you listened to when you needed comfort are revealed as sexual assaulters and harassers," a fan tweeted.

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Others pointed out that Rex Orange County had recently canceled his tour, citing "unforeseen personal circumstances" that have forced him to "spend some time at home this year."

"those personal reasons being him not being able to leave the country because he will be in a trial for 6 counts of sexual assault is sickening," one Twitter user wrote.

Cover photo: EMMA MCINTYRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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