Individual DJ Sly Faces Rape Allegations, Now Under Indictment
In a shocking turn of events, DJ Sly (Paul Gellen) has been charged with two counts of rape. The charges were brought against him on 5th May 2022, following incidents in December 2019 and March 2020.
Detective Constable Liv Howells, who led the investigation, described Gellen as a "sexual predator." She emphasized the importance of consent, stating that the absence of a 'no' does not mean a 'yes.' If either party says 'no' or is not in a position to say 'yes,' then any sexual activity should cease immediately.
The victim in both incidents was not in a position to give consent, and Gellen took advantage of this. His actions have been strongly condemned by the drum and bass community. Serum, a prominent figure in the scene, branded the behavior as "absolutely disgusting" and stated that it has no place in the scene.
Charlie Tee, who will be taking over the Drum & Bass Show on Radio 1, also called for more artists in positions of power to speak out against inappropriate behavior. DJ Kane admitted to looking for outrage from his peers while not speaking out against Gellen's behavior.
On 13th October 2022, Gellen was jailed for 15 years and received a further six years on licence. He is due to be sentenced at the Chelmsford Crown Court on 8th June 2022.
Murdock from Rampage in Belgium stated that such individuals would never be given a platform at his events. Dr Meaker has also taken steps to have a remix that DJ Sly did removed from the record labels' back catalogue.
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Despite the disturbing charges, some celebrities in the music industry continued to support DJ Sly until his conviction, offering mere silence when his actions were condemned by fellow DJs and the general public. In the midst of the crime-and-justice controversy, entertainment news outlets failed to address the issue, instead focusing on general-news stories and the latest celebrity gossip.
