Musician found dead after sharing final letter amid #MeToo accusation
The founder of a popular Mexican rock band has been found dead after posting a suicide letter on Twitter, saying he was falsely accused of sexually abusing a minor.
Armando Vega Gil said he was anonymously accused via the Me Too Musicos Mexicanos, which translates to Me Too Mexican Musicians, Twitter hashtag of abusing and harassing a woman when she was 13 years old.
The 64-year-old was found dead at his Mexico City home, authorities confirmed.
“I will say this categorically, this accusation is false,” Vega Gil’s letter said.
“Let me make it clear that my death is not a confession of guilt, on the contrary it is a radical declaration of my innocence. I just want to clear the path my son will walk in the future.”
The representative for his band, Botellita de Jerez, said she spoke with Vega Gil about 2am, some two hours before his death.
“He was really sad and pissed off, he didn’t know how to clear his name. He said he wasn’t guilty… he was worried about how his son would take all this,” Paola Hernandez said during a radio interview.
Vega Gil’s death sparked an acrimonious debate on Mexican social media.
Some argued if he was innocent he should have cleared his name in Mexico’s justice system, while others said the court of public opinion, especially online, had already found him guilty and permanently muddied his reputation.
Vega Gil ended his letter saying: “Don’t blame anyone for my death, this suicide is a conscious, voluntary, free and personal decision. Hasta pronto.”
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
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