Crystal Castles Dropped From Feminist Gig After Ex-Frontwoman Slams Booking

Toronto electronica outfit Crystal Castles have been dropped from a feminism-centric SXSW gig organised by Tumblr, after former frontwoman Alice Glass commented that the band's Ethan Kath was "not an appropriate" artist to be performing at an event aimed at highlighting women's issues.

As NME reports, the band were slated in to headline the Tumblr 79 Cents Party (named for the gender wage difference between men and women in the US) on 16 March in Austin, Texas, along with Jhene Aiko, Tacocat, Little Simz and Empress Of, when Glass told The Verge, "As someone who knew [Crystal Castles frontman] Ethan Kath on a personal and professional level, it is my opinion that he is not an appropriate artist to be performing at a feminism-centric event."

Glass left the band in late 2014 after a reportedly tumultuous creative relationship in which Glass described Kath as "manipulative". 

Tumblr subsequently pulled Crystal Castles from the line-up, stating, "We've removed Crystal Castles from the lineup of the 79 Cents party.

"We don't know the facts around comments made about a member of the band, and we're not going to engage in an investigation around it. We're hosting this event to highlight gender disparity issues, something that Tumblr and our community cares deeply about, and we don't want the band's presence to distract from this important mission."