Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:26/11/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I'm alleging ***** and ********** advertising and ********* business and sales tactics. This dispute has been ongoing and has continued to have negative effects on me to the present day since I was a student and paid a total of $600 for lessons between May 31, 2023 and July 31, 2023. I recieved a partial refund of $150 for only two of the lessons. ***** **** and ****** ****** cut off contact and ignored my attempts to resolve this. ***** makes several claims on his website about his teaching and what to expect in lessons with him, which I found all to be objectively untrue, such as that he provides students with notebooks, when there were no notebooks whatsoever, that there is an option for 30 minute lessons, which I don't recall being offered, and there are many other exciting sounding promises that were not fulfilled or even began to be fulfilled, about making your dreams a reality, being given great quality lessons with a lot of attention and care, potentially studying music at prestigious schools, playing in bands, and even becoming a rockstar. This was not my experience, at all. The lessons did not prepare me to pursue these goals. ***** does not teach any of the students himself. He has a ***** ** **** *** man named ****** ****** teaching for him in private lessons with a locking door. The boundaries are very unclear around the relationship and social media and ***** encourages viewing and following him and ******. I was *********d and ********* by ****** and his band members. I am a musician with goals in music and I have the right to attend shows and music stores, but ****** and his friends are ******* ******** ** ** ******** *** *********** and they are ********** me by all blocking me online as a group. The lessons with ****** oddly resemble romantic dates, *** ****** ******** *** *********** ************ ***** *** **** ***** ******** **** ******** * **** ******** I find this to be highly indicative of ************ and it's concerning.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 26/11/2024

  I'm asking for a refund because the advertising was ********** and ***** regarding the lessons, the lesson content, and who the teacher is. The lessons did not give me what the website described, which was to make my dream a reality and prepare me to play in bands or go to school for music. There were no notebooks, which was a thing he specificied that he provides, as well as the other claims I listed. Furthermore, with the lack of clarity around communication and social media, ** ** ****** *** ******* ** ***** ************* in order to justify terminating me as a student without further clarification of the contradictions in what I was told after having been given explicit consent to follow ****** online and go to shows, this has had lasting negative effects and I deserve a refund.

  Business Response

  Date: 18/12/2024

  Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention. I take all concerns seriously and aim to address the allegations thoroughly.

  BACKGROUND OF LESSONS PROVIDED

  Between May 31, 2023, and July 31, 2023, the former student enrolled in drum lessons through my business, fully informed that instruction would be provided by ****** ******, an experienced and professional drum instructor. This arrangement was clearly communicated and agreed upon before lessons began.

  Throughout the duration of the lessons, the former student consistently expressed satisfaction with ******’s teaching. Following the initial lesson, I checked in to ensure expectations were being met. The former student reassured me on multiple occasions that ****** was doing an exemplary job. At one point, the student did inquire about the possibility of taking lessons with me directly, which I offered, but the student did not pursue.

  ADDRESSING SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS

  ***** and ********** Advertising: My website provides a general overview of resources and opportunities students may receive. The language is aspirational, highlighting the possibilities that sustained effort and practice can achieve. The website makes no guarantee of specific outcomes. Many students of both ****** and myself have made the achievements listed on my website. Regarding the comment that I do not teach any of the students myself, that is incorrect, as I do personally teach some students as well.
  
  Notebooks: Practice materials were provided to the student via email instead of a physical notebook. I understand this tailored approach was meeting the student’s needs for the specific goals of their lessons. The former student has acknowledged receiving the material and using it for practice. I have since removed the mention of notebooks on my website.

  30-Minute Lessons: While the option for 30-minute lessons exists, the student did not make a specific request, hence it was not discussed. Since I prefer 1-hour sessions, I have since eliminated the 30-minute wording from my website.

  Quality and Promises: The former student repeatedly expressed satisfaction with the lessons and ******’s teaching, which directly contradicts their claim that lessons were unsatisfactory.

  Professional Standards: My business adheres to strict professional standards. Lessons are conducted in a professional environment and no inappropriate relationships or ************ occurred. ******’s age (**) does not diminish his qualifications or professionalism; he is an experienced and highly capable instructor and drummer with excellent reviews.
  
  INITIAL INCIDENT AND TERMINATION OF LESSONS

  It is my understanding that the former student attended a concert of ******’s. During this event, ****** and the band felt that the student behaved inappropriately as a concertgoer, and had created a scene. This subsequently led to ****** and his band feeling uncomfortable with the student's presence there. Later, the student reported to ****** and myself that on the evening of the concert, they ******** * ************ ******** ********** *** *** ** ** ********

  ****** was not involved in any of the student’s activities at the concert, specifically their ************* ************ ********* None of his bandmates were involved either.

  This event raised serious concerns about my instructor's safety as well as the perceived relationship the student had with ******. ****** expressed to me that he was uncomfortable with the student, and requested to no longer teach them. I fully agreed, determining that ****** should not be exposed to such an environment as the student had exhibited disruptive behavior that does not fall within the professional lines of the student-teacher relationship. Therefore I terminated the lessons, which I understand, in such an instance, is within my rights as a business owner.

  Following this decision, a refund of $150 was issued on July 24, 2023, for the two remaining lessons not yet delivered. At that time, the former student expressed gratitude for the refund and acknowledged the termination in their own words:
  
  ** ***** **** **** *** *** ****** ***** **** *** *********** ****** ************** * ********** **** ********* **** ****** ** ***** **** **** *** ******* **** * ***** **** ** ** ** *** *******
  
  

  It was not until November 13, 2024—more than a year later—that the former student requested a full refund of $600 for all lessons provided.

  POST-TERMINATION CONDUCT

  Since the termination, the former student has made repeated, unsolicited attempts to contact both myself and ******, spanning well over a year. These contact attempts include more than 30 emails, text messages, and voicemails to my accounts, as well as text messages, voicemails, and several direct messages to ****** as well as his bandmates. Many of these messages were sent using fake accounts and names that we have reason to believe come from the student.

  The tone of these messages have fluctuated from apologetic to extremely aggressive and have included name-calling and *******. None of these messages have received a response. Following consultation with a business lawyer, I was further advised not to respond to the student’s messages due to their aggressive and volatile conduct.

  *** ****** ******* *** **** **** ****** ******** ** ** ************* *** ****** ******* ********* ******* * ********** **** ****** *** ***** ********* ** ********** **** **** ** ************* *** ******* **** ** *** *** ********* ******** ******** ** *** ****** ******* ** *** ******

  In several messages, the former student acknowledged and accepted the termination of lessons, apologized for their behavior, and admitted to crossing ******'s boundaries for the sake of additional communication.

  The student has also alleged ********** due to being blocked online by myself, ******, and others. Blocking someone is not a form of ********** but rather a self-protective measure to prevent unwanted contact. It is widely considered a legitimate way to manage online interactions, especially when used to avoid **********.

  ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS PRACTICES

  I categorically deny the claim of ********* business practices. My business operates transparently and ethically, with clear communication about lessons, expectations, and goals. The decision to terminate lessons was based solely on safety and professional concerns, and all actions taken since have been guided by these principles.

  CONCLUSION

  This situation has been challenging for all parties involved. My business strives to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, and I stand by the decisions made to protect the safety and well-being of my staff and students. The inappropriate behavior, **********, and ongoing communication from the former student have only further confirmed that the termination of lessons was the correct response.

  Sincerely,

  ***** ****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 20/12/2024

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Hello,
  I have received and read the formal response from ***** **** Drums. I rejected his response and I also want to respond specifically to a few of the things ***** wrote that are totally *****. I don't have legal representation yet at this time and I was unsure of what to do as ***** has indicated already having sought legal advice. I am at a disadvantage compared to Mr. Ritz as * *** ****** *** ******** ******
  I am so upset by *****'s **** that I've decided to CC my response directly to him as well. These **** are highly disturbing, and I feel very strongly about my defense and my need to state and prove the truth.
  I have copied and put in quotations the statements I am arguing against below.
  
  “****** and the band felt that the student behaved inappropriately as a concertgoer, and had created a scene. This subsequently led to ****** and his band feeling uncomfortable with the student's presence there.”
  
  -This statement is completely *****. There is no evidence that exists in any form of communication that I "created a scene" or that the band was uncomfortable with my presence. This was simply not what occured, this is a total ***. ****** sent me a text message the night of his band's performance. On July 21, 2023 at 11:40 pm, ****** wrote: "Hey ******! Just seeing these now. Oh no! I definitely wasn't trying to avoid you and I'm sorry if it came off that way. I remember seeing you for a second just as we were about to set up and I was in a rush to get the band together backstage. Snubbing you was not my intention and I certainly wasn't trying to run away from you, we just had to begin our setup immediately. It's also completely fine that you came to the show by yourself - I do that often and usually have a really good time that way! Ah I'm really sorry you feel that way. You're not repellent and I have every intention of attending our lesson on Wednesday. **** **** ********** **** * *** ****** ********* *** **** *** **** **** ******** ********** ***** ******* *********** ** ********** Hope this clears things up! ******"
  
  This is evidence that there was no scene and that they were not uncomfortable. ****** *****, ******'s band mate, was also ********* ********* ********* at this event on July 21, 2023 and talking to me in a manner that showed no discomfort at all. We had a few conversations that night as we kept running into each other as the evening progressed and she and I were mingling. I expressed insecurity and anxiety that her band mate ****** didn't like me. She said, multiple times, "****** is a pretty straightforward person, he would tell you himself if he had a problem with you. Otherwise, I'm sure he doesn't dislike you."
  
  Please see the screenshot of ******'s text attached.
  
  “The former student has also sent ****** messages of an inappropriate and ****** ******, including photos. I understand that ****** has never requested or encouraged this type of communication and asserts that he has not expressed romantic interest in the former student at any point.”
  
  -The claim that ****** "never encouraged" this type of communication is *****. ***** himself does not know what went on during private one-on-one lessons with ****** and I, and he cannot confirm whether ****** encouraged anything or not. ****** was *********** with me during lessons, which clouded my judgement of the actual quality of the lessons, which was subpar and inadequate, and he was encouraging and consenting in email interactions about his bands and following him on social media.
  
  
  “In several messages, the former student acknowledged and accepted the termination of lessons, apologized for their behavior, and admitted to crossing ******'s boundaries for the sake of additional communication.”
  
  -I tried to apologize for whatever may have been percieved or felt on ***** and ******'s end, however, I deny admitting to crossing "******'s boundaries," as I was explicitly told by ****** and by ***** that there were no boundaries. I have also attached the email of ***** saying it would be good for students to follow ****** and see his content and that I shouldn't overthink it. To quote his email, ***** said, "I think that will be good for students to look through as well." This is stated in the third paragraph of his email from June 24, 2023, 12:39pm.
  
  
  “The student has also alleged ********** due to being blocked online by myself, ******, and others. Blocking someone is not a form of ********** but rather a self-protective measure to prevent unwanted contact. It is widely considered a legitimate way to manage online interactions, especially when used to avoid **********.”
  
  - I have been *********d by the community, and these *********** claims are *****, vexatious, and ************** ** *** ***** ** ** ********** *** ******. This is not a protective measure. It is ************** and *******. 
  
  “I categorically deny the claim of ********* business practices. My business operates transparently and ethically, with clear communication about lessons, expectations, and goals. The decision to terminate lessons was based solely on safety and professional concerns, and all actions taken since have been guided by these principles.”
  
  -This is totally *****, there is even evidence that ***** admits there was a miscommunication. The emails I have provided show that the expectations were not made clear.
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  ****** ******

  Business Response

  Date: 24/12/2024

  I appreciate your time and effort in facilitating this process. On the matter of the original grievance, I believe that I have already adequately addressed the concerns brought forward by the former student regarding advertising, lesson expectations, and refunds. At this point, I find it deeply disheartening to see this situation escalate beyond its original scope. However, I remain committed to resolving this matter as professionally as possible.

  In this case, the former student's grievances appear to have shifted into ******** ********* unrelated to the business concerns originally raised. I will reiterate that the decision to terminate lessons was made solely in response to ****** expressing discomfort with continuing to work with the student. This was a professional decision intended to prioritize the safety and well-being of my instructor, and it is a decision I am entitled to make. Since termination, the student has repeatedly undermined this decision by unfairly claiming ***** practices and giving my business bad reviews. You can see the student acknowledge this tactic in an email sent to ****** on Sep 10, 2024.

  Regardless of boundaries, basic decency and respect must be observed in all interactions. Since the termination of lessons, the former student has acted rudely and aggressively toward ******, his bandmates, and myself, which should not be tolerated in any capacity.

  Regarding the original request for a refund of lessons taken, I will reiterate that the student completed $450 worth of lessons, often expressing satisfaction and complimenting ******’s instruction. After termination, a refund of $150 for two remaining lessons was issued, which the student acknowledged and expressed gratitude for. The current refund request of $600 includes lessons that were completed and enjoyed, which I believe is unreasonable.

  I would also like to bring to the BBB’s attention that the former student has acknowledged, in their own words, the inappropriateness of their behavior and the impact it has had. In an email dated October 12, 2023, the student apologized for what they described as ************** *** *********** ******** ********** They took responsibility for a ******** *** ********** ******** at an event involving ******’s bandmates. They regretted public ********* comments that were described as ********* ********* *** *********** ************ Additionally, they explicitly acknowledged awareness of ******’s boundaries, which they have ignored repeatedly since.

  This email demonstrates the student’s awareness of their own conduct and reinforces my decision to prioritize the safety and well-being of my instructor and business. While I sympathize with the challenges the student has faced, I believe this provides important context as to why the lessons were terminated.

  I trust the BBB to provide their opinion on the matter and determine the most appropriate course of action. I stand by my decisions and my goal remains to resolve this dispute professionally while protecting the integrity of my business and its reputation.

  Sincerely,
  ***** ****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 31/12/2024

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Although I'm glad ***** says that he sympathizes with my challenges, he is still claiming things that are not true, I disagree with his statements, and I still feel strongly that I deserve a full refund and/or compensation for the pain and suffering I’ve endured as a result of doing transactions with this business. 

   

  First of all, regarding the statement that ***** believes my grievances have ******** ** ******** ********* ********* ** *** ******** ******** ********** ******** I would argue that the type of business ***** operates runs the very real and ********* **** of overlapping with ******** *********, as the lessons are one on one, ****** is a young person, and music itself, as well as the reasons one would pursue drum lessons in the first place, such as playing in bands, are very personal in nature for many people. 

   

  The relevance of my concerns are also illustrated by the issue of social media as both a business platform and a form of social interaction simultaneously, which ***** has failed to consider seriously and does not address in any way on his website in regards to “boundaries” or “policies” of any kind, as well as what is even meant by a casual and laid back lesson style. Personal and professional are not two easily divided territories, especially in arts and music. Your personal life and ****** ****** affect and interact with your professional life. The only way to function is to be transparent, which I tried to do in this case, and I was ******** ******** for it through *************. 

   

  What eludes me is why ***** would make this claim about unrelated ******** ********* as though it is problematic or irrelevant, when he did not indicate having any concerns previously in June of 2023 when I shared personal information with him about my life in emails to him during the time that I was still a student. 

   

  Between June 23 - June 24, 2023, * ********* ** ***** **** *** * ******** ** ****** ******** **** ******** and he said that he did not have a problem with that, as long as I was enjoying the lessons. However, when he decided to terminate me, he said in his email on July 23, 2023, ****** ********* **** ******* *** *** ******** *************** ******* *********** ** **** ** ******* **** *** ************ ******* *** *** ****** *** ***** **** ******** ********** * ***** ******** **** ****** *** ***** ** *** **** ******* ****** *** * ******* I think that ***** mentioning our “previous correspondence” as a reason for terminating lessons, or for the relationship somehow entering ******** *********, indicates that his decision is ************** against me on the basis of my ****** ********** and ******. 

   

  Because it is not possible to capture every email in entirety in screenshots, I will also forward this June 2023 conversation as it appears to be relevant.

   

  The next statement ***** wrote that I’d like to respond to says, ** **** ********* **** *** ******** ** ********* ******* *** **** ****** ** ******** ** ****** ********** ********** **** ********** ** **** **** *** ******** **** *** * ************ ******** ******** ** ********** *** ****** *** **** ***** ** ** *********** *** ** ** * ******** * ** ******** ** ****** I find this to be highly ************** in favor of ****** and very accusing and ********** towards me. My safety and well being was ***********. I was put in ****** ***, not ******, based on the reasonable assumption that I was welcome to attend the ***** **** **** concert, and based on ******’s consent and encouragement, which I have already provided proof of in his text message. As an employee of *****, ******’s text message is not just within ******** *********. This all relates directly to the business. 

   

  In *****’s initial response to my complaint, he mentioned that he didn’t want his instructor exposed to that “environment,” regarding how I had disclosed to them that * *** ********* *** **** ******** I’m unable to see how, as a person, I somehow qualify as an environment. In fact, I was in ****** and *****’s environment, going to lessons in east Vancouver and being exposed to downtown eastside events that ****** had shared with me willingly on *********. Had I not been given this consent and encouragement from ****** and ***** to follow the bands on social media and attend the show, * ***** *** **** ***** ** ***** ** ****** ** ****** ** ***** This alone should potentially be enough to warrant giving me a full refund, considering that he allowed his “instructor” ****** to “ghost” me, when I was a paying customer and student. This is an unacceptable practice in business as an adult and an instructor. 

   

  My question is, what about my safety and well-being as a paying customer and student of *****’s business? Regardless of what arguments he makes against me or how he ******* ** ********** there is a major problem with consistency and clarity around the relationship with ****** as a teacher and how to even understand and interpret what is meant by having a so-called “relaxed style.” **** ***** *** **** *** *** ** **** *** **** *** *** ** **** ******** ********* ***** **** ******** **** * ***** ******* *** evading any responsibility or accountability over what has clearly become quite a serious miscommunication. I feel ******, *********, and ***********. 

   

  The positive reviews of ******’s teaching are not about the lessons, I can almost guarantee. They are driven by ******’s ***** and how he wastes lesson time chatting and ********. Due to my judgement being clouded by this, that is the only reason that I expressed any satisfaction with the lessons to *****. In reality, ****** was not a competent teacher, he wasted a lot of time chatting *** ******** with me, and he failed to teach me basic and rudimentary skills or information to give me any confidence in drumming moving forward. He showed disregard and negligence towards my drumming goals and ignored emails about them. I was left overwhelmed and intimidated by the drum kit, thinking that I was just not good enough to play, when in reality ******’s teaching was subpar. 

   

  When ****** asked me why I was taking lessons during the first lesson, I said that I wanted to be in a band, but that I was told ****s can’t play the drums and I was insecure that maybe I couldn’t play because I’m a ****. My insecurity about drumming as a **** came up a second time in a different lesson, and ****** said, “sure,” in a passive and dismissive way that indicates to me now in retrospect that he probably had a problem with that, and maybe that made him more neglectful at teaching me. 

   

  In the six lessons I took with ******, almost none of the things that ***** lists on his website were actually followed through on, at all. I never got to play a song, I didn’t learn where to sit properly in proximity from the snare drum so that I wasn’t feeling awkward and hitting the rim constantly, there was no discussion of styles of music as it pertains to actually playing the drums, and ****** never even helped me understand how practice pad exercises would help me to play the actual drums at all. The practice pad exercises felt silly, and it was frustrating, and I took it upon myself as though it was somehow my fault as a ***** with ****** ****** challenges. “Next we move onto early coordination and reading. By the end of the first lesson you’ll be playing a full beat,” the website says, and I don’t even know what a full beat is. I would say that is a reflection of pretty poor teaching. Coordination did not come up. 

   

  I asked ****** questions about reading music and drumming in an email that he ignored and he didn’t answer my questions adequately in person either. It seemed like he didn't care, rushed and distracted with better things to do than help me. I felt so lost. My emotions were ********* by this business’s website. I'm a rock songwriter, and I have those exact dreams of playing in bands, and ****** was incompetent, evasive, and uninformative about all of the things listed and spoken about on *****’s website. I’m aware that ****** is a fan of metal, and it’s apparent that he probably did not like my taste in music based on his reactions and expressions and his lack of interest or enthusiasm to my mentioning of certain bands like ***** *** and *******, and it’s possible he dismissed me as a student for those reasons as well. This seems quite immature and unprofessional.

   

  To expand further on how the website is ********** and the lessons were not satisfactory, under the section labelled “Beginner” on the home page, it says, “Don’t be fooled! Drums can be tricky at first, but I have never failed at getting a student to successfully play along to a song. I promise it will be the same for you.” ***** used the words “never failed” and “promise,” and I can say definitively that promise was not delivered. On the trial lesson page, under the section entitled “Meet ******!” it says he’ll help you get a “flying start,” whatever that means, and he definitely did not, nor was he able to handle my style or experience level.

   

  Regarding my email to ****** on September 10, 2024, ***** claims that I acknowledged the “tactic” of bad business reviews. What I said to ******, which you can see in writing if ***** uploaded this email in his response, is that I was considering changing or removing the review if it meant that ****** would talk to me, because I hoped that ****** would stop mercilessly ignoring me. That does not mean that my review is a tactic. My review is how I really and truly feel and I am not doing it **************. I’ve been very much wronged.

   

  I want to speak to *****’s next statement, which is, “Regardless of boundaries, basic decency and respect must be observed in all interactions. Since the termination of lessons, the former student has acted rudely and aggressively toward ******, his bandmates, and myself, which should not be tolerated in any capacity.” I am floored and bewildered by the hypocrisy and the covertly ******* nature of these statements. I agree that basic decency and respect must be observed in all interactions, which is why this is so baffling. Being blocked and ghosted by several people collectively is a **** ***** against me on the basis of my ********** and ******. I never, ever acted rudely or aggressively toward ******’s bandmates online, that is a total, outright ***. My only attempts at contact with them were to apologize for having come across in a way that was not a reflection of my true character. Having my attempts at apologizing and resolving the situation respectfully and peacefully be continually rejected and ignored and met with blocking and ghosting is an incredibly painful thing to endure, especially by multiple people at once. 

   

  I think in the above paragraphs I have explained why I feel that the lessons were not completed and enjoyed as ***** says that he believes, regardless of what little I may have said otherwise at the time to *****, under clouded judgement and ********* emotions. The same goes for the email to ****** on Sept 10 about the ****** review. 

   

  I am aware of the email that ***** has referred to and quoted from October 12, 2024 about my apologies to the band. For one thing, I think it’s really sad and unfortunate that my attempts at mature communication and resolution are being used as a weapon against me. This email is evidence that, like I said, my only attempts to communicate with ******’s band have been for the sake of resolution, and I have never ******** them. ****** accused me of ********* him, which hurt my feelings deeply. I realized later that his accusation feels like ****** ************ ** ************ As a result of his painful accusation, I wanted to apologize to the band for what may have been merely perceived as ********** of any kind. I do not agree that I have ******** anyone, and I feel that this is a vexatious and *******ous claim. My message was only meant to be an apology for what may have been perceived that way. 

   

  I knew that ***** would attempt to weaponize this email to ******’s band from October 12, 2024 against me, and I looked over it quite closely before I even received *****’s latest response. Even with these statements from that email under consideration, I stand by the fact that I did not “create a scene” at the ***** **** **** show on July 21, 2023, as ***** phrased it in his first response. The way I’m being characterized is extreme and biased. There is a difference between making a scene in a public place, which I did not do, and the things I admitted to in an attempt to show empathy for whatever may have been perceived or felt by ******’s bandmates. 

   

  Talking to people at a show, whether ***** *** ********* ** ****** ** *** ****** * ****** All I did at the show was talk to two of ******’s friends after ****** had already left. I didn’t like the way I came off, which I’m aware I described in the email as *********** ******** *** *********** ********* but I was not doing anything that qualifies as inappropriate in the sense of being a concert attendee. I did not admit to acting inappropriately at the show specifically in my email, but only that I had approached ******'s two friends and that I'm sure they were confused. The statement mentioning being sorry for any inappropriate behavior was general and not specific, and meant to refer to anything within the time frame of the past year and a half that ****** and/or the band might have perceived that way. Perceive is the key word. At the show, I did not raise my voice beyond the volume that the crowd was already at, I did nothing violent or inappropriate in a general sense or in the sense of what is expected at a public event. In fact, I actually just felt like ****** and his bandmate ****** at seperate times were both really cold and stand off-ish towards me at the show, when I was sober and well-groomed upon arrival and I had only tried to be polite and friendly to ****** and I had come to see ****** perform out of support and got blown off, which really hurt my feelings. This is being wrongly twisted against me, which I don't think is very helpful in reaching a resolution. I do not deserve to be ******** and ************ in these ways.

   

  It cannot be proven or confirmed specifically what I was referring to in my email to the band as far as inappropriate behavior. Because I have gotten no response whatsoever from any of the parties involved, I was left having to figure out and guess how ****** and the band felt, because they refused to communicate with me, which very deeply hurts me. 

   

  ***** wrote, “Additionally, they explicitly acknowledged awareness of ******’s boundaries, which they have ignored repeatedly since.” There are a few issues with *****’s argument around my email. For one thing, he got the date wrong, it was Oct 12, 2024, not 2023, which is a pretty big difference concerning the timeline of this situation. By the time I wrote that email, I had finally had a very brief conversation with ******, which I felt I very much deserved, when I went to speak to him to clarify all that was still unresolved at the *********, which is a public place in my defense, on **** ***** ***** on October 7, 2024. When I was a student, and when I was terminated, all between May and August in 2023, a year prior to this, I was not given any indication or communication by ***** or ****** about the existence of any boundaries, even when I asked them about it. To suggest that I have been disrespecting boundaries that were not communicated for over a year is ************* ******* *** ******* 
  
   

  On October 7, 2024, when I did briefly talk to ****** in person, he said that he was setting a boundary. At that point, when I emailed the band on October 12, I was acknowledging a boundary that had just recently been set by him, and I said that I wanted to respect that boundary, and that I was trying to respect that boundary. To say that I have “ignored” it “repeatedly” is a really unfair and exaggerated interpretation. Between October 7 and October 16, 2023, before ****** involved ****** *********** ** *** *** **** ********* *** ******* ****** ** **** ********** ****** ******* *** I merely emailed ****** three times, and in two of those emails I acknowledged that I was trying to respect his boundary and trying to stop, and I said that I would stop. I didn’t try to make contact in any other way. 

   

  If ****** truly felt ******** by my other emails to him that ***** describes as ****** in nature, I’m unsure of why he would wait for more than a month before ********* ** *** ************ Having admiration for someone is not ***********.

   

  I find the continued silence and blocking in response to my attempts at resolution to be an acute form of ******* and *****. I even consider it to be a **** ***** when it is done by an entire group of people in alliance against me. 

   

  *****’s position on this really baffles me, how he chooses to disregard and ignore the ways in which I have shown accountability and maturity in the same email from which he extracted supposed evidence to prove how I am somehow a bad person, a bad influence, or whatever nasty ways he is characterizing me in order to justify his ************** and selfish business decision to terminate me and protect ****** from taking any responsibility in all of this.

   

  * **** **** ** *** * **** ************ *** ********** ** ***** ************ ******** ** *** ********* ******** ** ******* ** ** ********* ** ** ** ****** ******* ** ***** *** ****** **** ***** ********** ** *** **** ** ********* **** * ** * ****** *** **** *** ******** ** ********* ** *** ***** ** ** *******
  
  

   

  Lastly, I want to say that although I admit that my language towards ***** did become vulgar at one point, I'm quite confident that the sentiments **** ** **** ******** *** ***** *** ** *** **** do not qualify as actual *******, but rather merely an expression of the intensity of my grief and frustration. There is no ****** of action in those statements, and I have never had *********** intentions. You cannot ************ against someone, ********* and ********* them, and then behave as though you are shocked that they're upset as if it is out of the blue and play the victim. It is not as if apologizing ever made a difference to anyone in this situation anyway.

  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  ****** ******