Getty Michael Clifford speaks out after being accused of sexually assaulting a young girl in 2013.
Update: The Twitter user who accused Michael Clifford, one of four members of the popular boy band 5 Seconds of Summer, of sexual assault recanted her accusations just days after posting them on the social media platform, according to Variety. “Today I found out that my offender is dead. My offender IS NOT MICHAEL CLIFFORD. HE NEVER TOUCHED ME. HE NEVER SAID THOSE THINGS TO ME. He’s innocent,” wrote @sophiectth5, whose tweets have since been deleted.
In June 2020, Clifford was accused on Twitter of sexually assaulting multiple underage girls in 2013 and 2014. Multiple Twitter members shared accounts — some now deleted from the platform — of what they say was abuse, all accusing Clifford of being a sexual predator when the band toured with One Direction.
A Twitter account called @sophiectth5 jumpstarted the allegations. Before the account was made private, she tweeted that “MC” reached up her mini skirt when she 14 years old and that “MANY people saw” but did nothing. “I was scared and shocked bc he kept saying disgusting things to my ear.”
Other stories shared on Twitter described Clifford and other band members making sexual advances on fans at meet-and-greets or during concerts after 5SOS performed.
Clifford tweeted out to his 10.3 million followers, “Holy s***. I am heartbroken to read these things that are being said – they are just BEYOND untrue. I was never allowed in the crowd I only ever watched at front of house – and I would’ve never EVER done that. I would NEVER do anything like that. I’m so f****** upset.”
@bbabylonhood this is what life was like in 2013 – please understand it wouldve been logistically impossible for me to get through a crowd at a show i just played at! im not trying to be defensive i promise this is just so completely false
t.co/7BfTBjiZLK
Between 2013 and 2015, two years after the Australian-based boy band was formed, 5SOS traveled with One Direction on their “Take Me Home,” “Where We Are” and “On The Road Again” tours. In addition to Clifford, 5SOS members include Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin.
Clifford, 24, who’s the lead guitarist of 5SOS, tweeted, “This is what life was like in 2013 – please understand it would’ve been logistically impossible for me to get through a crowd at a show I just played at! I’m not trying to be defensive I promise this is just so completely false.”
5 Seconds of Summer’s Hood & Hemmings Spoke to Rolling Stone About the Number of Women They Had Sex With While on Tour
GettyMichael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin and Calum Hood of 5 Seconds of Summer in January 2020.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2015, Hemmings said life touring with One Direction was absolute madness. He said, “When you put four young dudes on a tour bus, playing theaters, then arenas, you’re going to have sex with a lot of girls, I guess. We had a good time.”
“Multiple girls at the same time?” Hemmings added. “The possibility is high. The possibilities are endless.”
Hood said, “I had all this attention from all these girls that would have never liked me in school, coming up to me and saying things, handing me numbers. It was like, ‘Holy s**t, f**k yeah!’ I got a bit reckless.”
Users online tweeted quotes from this interview to show support to the victims who shared their stories on Twitter. However, none of the allegations concerning Clifford have been confirmed, and the singer was quick to vehemently deny all the claims made against him.
Clifford Apologized in 2020 for Problematic Old Tweets That Resurfaced Online
Clifford apologized on June 9, 2020, after a series of his old tweets came to light. In the tweets, which were published between 2012 and 2015, Clifford used a homophobic slur multiple times and tweeted, “I am so bad at making sandwiches, I would be a terrible woman.”
On June 13, 2020, Clifford tweeted, “Hi. I am so f****** sorry for all the dumb s*** I did when I was younger. I am a different person now with a much better understanding of the world. some people have access to a digital megaphone a bit earlier than they should, unfortunately, I was one of them.”
He added, “I am so sorry for hurting anyone. It was never my intention. I was so naive and I am embarrassed and I am beyond sorry. I will continue to be better and I will continue to change. I never want to hurt anyone again.”
READ NEXT: Stephane Bombet in Blackface: Top LA Restauranteur Ousted for Lil Wayne Costume