Statement regarding the Booking of Manic Pixie
CN: Transphobia
The following concerns our booking for the event "Splinter Cell: The First Chapter" on November 6, 2023, and the spontaneous cancellation of Manic Pixie’s gig.
For our event "Splinter Cell: The First Chapter" on November 6, 2023, at mjut, Leipzig, we booked an artist (Manic Pixie aka Mine) who had followed the Instagram profile "terf-watch-watch" between May and December 2022. This page is considered problematic because it posts transphobic content. We were aware of this and booked Mine only after ensuring, through a collaborative process with her and people in our circle, that she strongly condemns and criticizes the discriminatory posts on this page, just as we do.
A few days before the event, we were asked by someone to explain the booking of Mine. Shortly thereafter, we arranged a personal meeting with that person to describe our decision and the process behind it. Due to a lack of public transparency about our decision-making process, a call to boycott the party was posted on the evening of the event. We also received a message from an affected individual for whom Mine, as a DJ, would have been a reason not to feel safe at the event. Consequently, in agreement with Mine, we decided that she would not perform.
We want to make it clear that we acknowledge the mistake of not responding to the wishes of the affected individuals early enough. The following outlines our collaborative process regarding Mine's booking.
Why did we hire Mine?
Originally, we intended to book another DJ for the specified date who, unfortunately, was not available. In the following days, Mine was suggested as an alternative within our circle of friends. Initially, we dismissed the idea because we knew she had followed that particular page. The idea was reconsidered when Mine privately reached out to someone from the label and willingly offered to explain herself.
From the beginning, it was clear to us that we only wanted to collaborate with her if she unequivocally distanced herself from the content of that page. She was very cooperative from the first conversation, repeatedly emphasizing that her goal was not merely to be booked but rather to openly and personally address the issue and discuss any uncertainties within her social environment, including our circle of acquaintances. In the first conversation, she took a clear stand against "terf-watch-watch" and articulated her recognition of the problematic nature of the shared content. It was evident to us that her attitude did not conflict with our values, and her presence as a DJ at our party would not compromise the safer space. Mine approached us with gratitude, understanding, and motivation to proactively address the issue. Therefore, we felt it was important to support her in this process. It was clear to us that reflection and addressing the issue were more appropriate in her situation than explicit exclusion from the event, the scene, or our circle of acquaintances.
What are we being criticized for?
In the conversation with the person who requested an explanation of the booking, the main criticism was that we had never publicly addressed Mine before the event. It was unclear whether we were even aware of the situation and to what extent we could ensure that Mine did not endorse the content posted there. The concern was that affected individuals might interpret this as the label's agreement with the page's content or that the event might no longer be perceived as a safer space. In response, Mine posted a statement on her Instagram account, clearly distancing herself from that page and its content.
Mine voluntarily offered to cancel her gig multiple times. Considering our prior efforts and the collaborative process, we deemed a cancellation unnecessary. Although we were asked to make a public statement during the personal conversation with the person who criticized us, we refrained from doing so at that time.
In retrospect, we acknowledge that it was a mistake not to publicly address the justified criticism of our booking, and we take responsibility for that decision.
Call for Boycott
On the day of the party, the person we had met with posted a call to boycott our party. The justification was that we were collaborating with someone who had behaved problematically without publicly addressing it. Additionally, the person spoke on behalf of affected friends who considered the booking a reason not to attend the event. Later that same evening, another affected person informed us that they would not feel safe at our party if Mine performed. Consequently, with Mine's full understanding, we canceled her gig.
We recognize the mistake of not attempting to establish direct contact with affected individuals sooner and, instead, communicating through a representative. During the initial criticism, we should have tried to establish contact with the affected person to be able to act in a more victim-oriented manner.
What do we learn from this, and how will we try to avoid such situations in the future?
We established this website so that people can anonymously reach out to us, and we can ensure transparency regarding our events and releases. We aim to listen to and process wishes and criticism, and in the future, we will try to respond more quickly and appropriately. We hope that everyone feels encouraged to contact us if their personal safer space in the context of our work is not guaranteed or has been compromised.
Leipzig, January 9, 2024