The Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences, which presents the Juno Awards, has defended the decision to nominate Arcade Fire for an award in the Group of The Year category.

The Awards committee’s statement defending their decision comes after accusations of sexual misconduct against Win Butler, who co-founded Arcade Fire with his wife Régine Chassagne.

“We look at Arcade Fire’s nomination for group of the year as one for the entire band,” the statement from Juno Awards reads. “While we take the allegations very seriously, in this situation, we are also honouring the rest of the band for their success. We hope the allegations against Butler will not detract from the achievements of the other group members.”

Three women accused Butler of using his fame to pressure them into sexual encounters, and a fourth said Butler sexually assaulted them on two occasions, including once sticking his hand into their pants without consent.

Butler, who married Chassagne in 2003, admitted to the extramarital relationships but claimed all of the sexual encounters were “consensual.”

(Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews)

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