Editor’s note: Before we begin, I want to make it clear that this story is still very much developing. In the days and even weeks ahead some details may change, but at the time of posting everything in this article has been fact checked…twice.
Front Porch Step, otherwise known as singer-songwriter Jake McElfresh, has been accused by at least a half-dozen young people of sexually harassing them through text. The allegations range from sexually explicit messages and requests for nude photographs, to sending underage females naked pictures of himself. The accusations began surfacing on Tumblr early in December, but discussion really took off when, earlier this week, a brave young woman launched a Change.Org petition asking for Vans Warped Tour to consider removing Front Porch Step from their 2015 lineup. The petition has received more than 3,000 signatures in less than 48 hours and has even caught the attention of Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman.
We’re not going to post links to the individual accusations being made, but suffice to say, a simple search on Google or Tumblr will provide a number of results. What we will post; however, is the messaging included in the petition. It reads:
“There have been multiple cases of Jake Mcelfresh talking to underage girls and sending them vulgar photos. He has been asked to stop by these girls every time and continues with the sexual statements and harassment. Being in his 20’s it is frankly disgusting that Jake is sending nudes and sexual statements to girls that are 13/14. There are screenshots of texts sent by him to one of these girls attached to this petition. We believe that Front Porch Step should not be allowed to play Vans Warped Tour and be given a national venue where he has access to the young girls who attend Warped Tour. We are asking Kevin Lyman and Vans Warped Tour to take Front Porch Step off the tour before something more than sending texts happens. Do not put your fans at risk, Kevin. Thank you all for signing.”
We have reached out to representatives for Front Porch Step, as well as his label (Pure Noise Records). We have also reached out to the press department at Warped Tour, but so far no one has returned our requests for comment.
Pure Noise Records did comment on Twitter this afternoon, but to be honest they kept things rather short and discreet:
We expect this story to continue developing in the days ahead. Please follow UTG on Twitter for updates.
