Comedian and lauded male feminist Jamie Kilstein has departed the podcast he co-hosts amid allegations of manipulation and abuse from multiple women.
On Monday morning, liberal independent podcast Citizen Radio and its co-host Allison Kilkenny announced that Kilstein would be leaving the program. Later that day, however, Kilkenny clarified that Kilstein’s departure from the podcast was a result of allegations of him preying upon, manipulating, and emotionally abusing women.
In a Facebook post slightly detailing the decision, Kilkenny, who is also Kilstein’s ex-wife, wrote that “murmurs” of Kilstein’s abuse lingered in the past, but because of anonymity, she was “never able to learn the full scope of what happened.”
That was until a few days ago, Kilkenny wrote, when “one of the women” who came forward was someone who had worked for the podcast, though she doesn’t mention how many women came forward initially. Kilkenny wrote that she asked Kilstein to leave the show, seek therapy, and apologize publicly. She said he has declined to do the latter, so she decided to clarify the situation in the post instead.
“Without making this about me, I want you all to know I’m furious, crushed, and horrified by all of this. I always believed Citizen Radio was a genuinely safe space, and I’m trying to make it that way again,” Kilkenny wrote. “I’m so, so sorry for letting anyone down.”
Kilstein, a musician and comedian, has received wide praise for his progressive stances, such as listening to and believing women when they say they’ve been wronged and addressing fellow men as a male feminist. Multiple pieces on why feminism needs male allies from publications like Everyday Feminism, Mic, Slate, and even the Daily Dot used Kilstein as a classic example of male feminist allyship done right.
Since Kilstein’s departure, many other women have come forward online with their stories of his abuse.
Katharine Heller, a former guest on the podcast, said she experienced inappropriate behavior from Kilstein. “I want to apologize if I hurt anyone for not seeing his behavior sooner. I wish none of this happened. But it did, and we believed women,” Heller wrote on Facebook.
Camille DeMere, a former partner of Kilstein’s, and Clair Yee have also shared their own experiences with Kilstein on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/yee_clair/status/836398612267565056
https://twitter.com/yee_clair/status/836399535630974976
https://twitter.com/yee_clair/status/836400144811708418
https://twitter.com/yee_clair/status/836400351490244611
https://twitter.com/yee_clair/status/836403030065090561
https://twitter.com/yee_clair/status/836403333749407745
It's coming out in a weird way where people know but don't know… but yes I was one of the people who came out against @jamiekilstein
— Camille DeMere (@CamilleDeMere) February 28, 2017
You can read some of my thoughts plus those of smarter women here https://t.co/wi2LRyUboH – I'm trying to take care right now
— Camille DeMere (@CamilleDeMere) February 28, 2017
Thank you for your messages, I really appreciate it. I've been holding this in since September 2013 and finally broke out May 2015
— Camille DeMere (@CamilleDeMere) February 28, 2017
During the abusive relationship, I was also his employee, after I left his employment it continued. I've worked in therapy a lot
— Camille DeMere (@CamilleDeMere) February 28, 2017
And I'm so grateful to the people who I felt safe enough to share about this before now, and to everyone who believed me this week
— Camille DeMere (@CamilleDeMere) February 28, 2017
More than anything – I'm sorry to the women he hurt and disrespected after me. I wish I had been brave enough to come out sooner.
— Camille DeMere (@CamilleDeMere) February 28, 2017
Former fans of Kilstein’s have responded to the allegations by posting negative messages on his Facebook fan page and dragging him on Twitter, many expressing disappointment in the musician for not publicly responding to the allegations.
I'm angry with Jamie kilstein, not least for vindicating the trolls who said he was "only trying to get feminist pussy". Nice job, dickhead.
— Tom Juniper🏳️⚧️ (@Tom_S_Juniper) February 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/kayleighqueue/status/836374775668834306
@jamiekilstein declining to admit the real reason for leaving is harmful to those involved, and exploiting emotion for pity.. disappointed..
— Ser 👽 (@transspoonie) February 27, 2017
Don Giovanni Records, which previously released Kilstein’s album A Bit Much, has severed its ties with the artist.
Kilstein did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations against him.