Former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan has issued a public apology to his ex-fiancee after admitting to assaulting her.
The 39-year-old singer appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to attacking Vikki Ager while drunk on 9 April.
He was ordered by the court to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and was given an 18-month community order.
Meighan issued a statement on Twitter the day after his court appearance apologising for his actions.
He wrote,“I would like to make a statement about recent events and publicly apologise to my partner Vikki, my band-mates, my friends, family and fans.
“I am very sorry and deeply regret my recent behaviour. In no way am I trying to condone my actions or make excuses. I am completely to blame and accept all responsibility.
“I have struggled for many years with alcohol addiction. The incident in April was a wake-up call for me, for who I was, and what I was becoming. I was spiralling out of control. My mental health was becoming more and more unstable and I was at breaking point.”
He continued: “I booked myself into a rehabilitation programme for alcoholism. It’s been well documented I’ve undergone treatment before, but in truth I’ve never actually been completely sober. This time has been different. I left the programme 3 weeks ago and with the support of my family and friends, I’ve been taking every day as it comes, getting through each day completely clean and sober. This time I actually really want to do it, not just for those I care about, but also for myself.”
The former frontman revealed that he has been recently diagnosed with ADHD and said that he and Vikki are still “very much in love” and are looking forward to rebuilding their life together.
He went on to say “the incident in question was an isolated one, and anyone who knows me will know it was completely out of character.”
I would like to make a statement following recent events. Full statement below. pic.twitter.com/GFIt6lqPjg
— Tom Meighan (@MeighanOfficial) July 8, 2020
Following Tuesday’s court case, Kasabian issued a further statement on Meighan’s departure from the band. It had been announced on Monday that he had left due to “mutual consent,” but they have now revealed that he was asked to leave.
“No one in the band wanted this to happen. We have all worked so hard for the past twenty-three years and had big plans for our future together. We’re completely heartbroken,” it read.
“But we were left with no choice but to ask Tom to leave the band. There is absolutely no way we can condone his assault conviction.
“Domestic violence and abuse of any kind is totally unacceptable. As soon as we found out about the charges made against Tom, we as a band made the decision that we could no longer work with him.”
I want you to get better but I also want you to never have a platform or be in the music business ever again. I'm a die-hard Kasabian fan but there are no excuses for this behavior
— Ol' Lauren (@mightiermarvel) July 8, 2020
Now that the legal proceedings have been concluded, we can comment on the departure of Tom Meighan from the band. Full statement below. Kasabian x pic.twitter.com/vP7Y61sxQA
— KasabianHQ (@KasabianHQ) July 7, 2020
Meighan’s statement caused a mixed reaction from fans online, with some supporting the singer and others deploring his actions.
“Kasabian isnt kasabian without Tom”. He ruined his own career, why should the rest of the band stop making music under that name just bc of his disgusting actions? They’re as much a part of the band as he was.
— Darce (@DarcyHumphries) July 8, 2020
if you feel the need to attack tom, you're definitely not a kasabian fan, if you're a fan you'll know exactly how much a loving,caring and sensitive person he really is and when he says that its "completely out of character" he really means it, let him get his life back!
— cerys🌻 (@eezehstevie) July 8, 2020
Just so Kasabian fans know, lots of people struggle with having addiction issues whilst having ADHD and aren't violent
— stace (@_stifton) July 8, 2020
Thank you for everything you've done for Kasabian in the past 22 years!! You're gonna get through this, please seek help and don't run away from it! Also please don't do anything stupid to yourself and not to anyone else in the future! Take care, it's gonna be a difficult path!
— :: Something-Human :: (@OnmarsSarah) July 8, 2020
I want you to get better but I also want you to never have a platform or be in the music business ever again. I'm a die-hard Kasabian fan but there are no excuses for this behavior
— Ol' Lauren (@mightiermarvel) July 8, 2020
very fucking weird of kasabian fans to try and blame everyone else but tom for his departure... if that’s your take then you literally condone domestic abuse and you need to sort that out
— lenn (@lennholmes) July 8, 2020
