As most of the world is well aware of by now, David Bowie died of cancer on January 10, 2016, and according to Associated Press, he went peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. For those of you who might not know who David Bowie is, he was an “English rock star known for dramatic musical transformations, including his character Ziggy Stardust.” He is often referred to as a genre-bending, “chameleon-like star,” and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame January 17, 1996.
While he was a talented and beloved icon, we don't really hear about Bowie being accused of rape.
In the 1980s, a 30-year-old woman had accused the rocker of forcing himself on her in his hotel room after a concert. She reported it to Dallas police, but they did not file charges. The woman filed a civil suit against Bowie, claiming that he exposed her to AIDS. Bowie responded, claiming that the woman’s accusations were a ridiculous attempt to attract attention. A Dallas grand jury cleared Bowie of these sexual assault charges, claiming that no further action would be taken.
Shortly after this incident, two women named Lori Mattixx and Sable Starr came out with horrifying stories about underage groupie sex with Bowie. In an article at thrillist.com, Mattixx recalls her experiences with Bowie, claiming that at age 14, “I had probably kissed boys by that point, but I wasn’t ready for David Bowie.” Mattixx describes in detail how she was propositioned for sex by the rock star multiple times. She describes her account filled with illegal drug use and underage sex, claiming, “He escorted me into the bedroom, gently took off my clothes, and de-virginized me.” Although she recalls the memory with nostalgia, claiming, “I was an innocent girl, but the way it happened was so beautiful,” the account is undeniably statutory rape. No matter how innocent it may have seemed to Mattixx, no 14-year-old child can consent to sex with an adult man. Bowie never denied these accusations, and no charges were ever pressed.
With the awareness of rape culture so widely circulating the media, is it appropriate to celebrate David Bowie as a cultural icon, and even hero? As a society, is it in good taste to completely sweep his behavior under the rug, telling ourselves that we can overlook rape and sexual assault – even if it’s just this once – because it was a long time ago, and he did a lot of good and meant so much to so many people?
Don’t get me wrong— I’m not arguing that David Bowie didn't impact music, art and fashion. We often make the mistake of trying to make things black and white, and that’s just never the case. A person can be extremely gifted while also having terrible demons. When someone dies, people tend to forget about the bad – or they simply want to push it under the rug because it’s “tasteless” or uncomfortable – while they memorialize the positive things they achieved. And while this might seem like an inappropriate reaction to mourning the death of a well-liked celebrity, if we overlook the problematic parts, we become part of, as well as an agent to, the rape culture that we otherwise decry.
It is OK to celebrate the life of David Bowie, but we also can't excuse inappropriate behavior with our silence. The fact of the matter is that sexual assault was not OK then, and it’s not OK now. No amount of talent transcends rape and sexual assault.
I’m not suggesting that we boycott his work or neglect the fact that he is a beloved musician who paved new roads with his work. David Bowie lived in a culture of rock stardom and celebrity that encouraged men to take advantage and exploit women and he made mistakes. But rather than glorifying him, or even condemning him, try to reflect on the fact that we need to question, and sometimes challenge those who we idolize in our culture, and who gets away with violence and rape.
