Former Anti-Flag Member Reflects on Justin Sane Allegations

In 2023, former Anti-Flag vocalist/guitarist Justin Sane confronted quite a few sexual assault allegations from quite a few girls, resulting in him paying almost $2 million to at least one accuser and Anti-Flag calling it quits. Now, former vocalist/bassist Chris “No. 2” Barker has addressed the fallout from how Anti-Flag dealt with Sane’s sexual allegations.

What Chris “No. 2” Barker Stated

Yesterday (Nov. 1), Barker shared a prolonged (multi-slide) apology to Instagram, captioning: “There was lots of work taking place the final 2 years, a lot of it in non-public and at an intentional tempo. I hope this letter may be a part of a step ahead.”

As for the apology itself, it finds Barker saying that he’s “actually sorry” that the band’s response to “the hurt [his] former bandmate brought about” didn’t “heart [on] the wants of survivors.” He elaborates by acknowledging that Anti-Flag’s “preliminary public assertion brought about hurt and disappointment,” in addition to for admitting that he didn’t see “the warning indicators of [Sane’s] depravity.” He additionally clarifies that he helps the survivors “demanding justice and therapeutic” and respects “their braveness for sharing their fact.”

Afterward, he displays on the state of affairs leaving him “feeling emotionally caught and unsure” but additionally “motived . . . to study and alter.” As well as, he explains that by way of “the accountability periods Chris [head, rhythm guitar], Pat [Thetic, drums], and [he] have engaged in” with numerous survivors, he has “hope that we are able to work towards collective accountability and restore.”

“To the survivors we’ve got not spoken to, we consider you, and I’m sorry if we allow you to down. We solely have empathy and compassion for you and your path ahead to therapeutic,” he continues.

Lastly, he gives his “honest empathy and remorse” to “anybody affected by” what occurred, and he confesses that this “painful journey” has “deeply challenged [his] belief and religion in relationships.” He ends by thanking everybody “who believed within the band and the group we shared,” concluding: “It’s a tough time on this world. Please be light with yourselves and one another.”

You possibly can learn the complete apology and see Barker’s put up beneath:

I wish to acknowledge the hurt my former bandmate brought about, and I’m actually sorry that our response to it didn’t heart the wants of survivors. I’m grateful that this individual’s true nature was uncovered, and I acknowledge the significance of accountability — one thing he has not but taken for himself. I acknowledge that our preliminary public assertion brought about hurt and disappointment, and I deeply remorse the ache we contributed to. I remorse not recognizing the warning indicators of his depravity, and need I had been extra conscious of the methods wherein my privilege contributed to a false sense of security round him. Whatever the intentions, hurt was brought about, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the ache and betrayal skilled by survivors, and help them in demanding justice and therapeutic. I respect their braveness for sharing their fact.

This expertise has left me feeling emotionally caught and unsure, but it surely has additionally motivated me to study and alter. I’m dedicated to asking higher questions, listening extra deeply, and guaranteeing that I don’t overlook indicators of dishonesty or hurt in others. I acknowledge that dangerous behaviors rooted in patriarchy and narcissism are deeply linked to programs of oppression, and that we should frequently problem them. I consider within the significance of ongoing therapeutic and justice for survivors.

By the accountability periods Chris, Pat, and I’ve engaged in with these survivors who’ve chosen to sit down in with us, I proceed to have hope that we are able to work towards collective accountability and restore. I’m grateful for the persistence and charm proven by these concerned within the transformative justice work we’ve got engaged in during the last 2 years, and I stay devoted to supporting that course of shifting ahead. To the survivors we’ve got not spoken to, we consider you, and I’m sorry if we allow you to down. We solely have empathy and compassion for you and your path ahead to therapeutic.

To anybody affected by this, I provide my honest empathy and remorse. I acknowledge the ache and trauma that always accompanies conditions like these and I’ll attempt to carry area on your therapeutic. Personally, this has been a painful journey — one which has deeply challenged my belief and religion in relationships — however I’m dedicated to working by way of my very own trauma with care and accountability.

To those that believed within the band and the group we shared, I wish to categorical my deep gratitude. I’m ashamed of what has occurred, however I’m additionally trying to develop from it. I don’t but know what my path with artwork or music will appear to be, however I solely want to lead with love and stroll with kindness and sweetness.

It’s a tough time on this world.
Please be light with yourselves and one another.”

– Chris #2

How Have Individuals Responded to Barker’s Publish?

Up to now, Barker’s put up has obtained a whole bunch of replies and hundreds of likes.

As an illustration, one individual shared:

I actually hope that each dime that Anti-Flag made out of the data, patreon, excursions, no matter else goes in the direction of the survivors. Every little thing. Good to see some accountability however possibly I am the outlier right here within the feedback pondering that these individuals should not essentially be welcomed again into the scene with open arms after undermining the victims initially after which going fully silent for 2 years. Hopefully y’all have been doing critical work behind the scenes as a result of after the whole lot that occurred I am nonetheless inherently skeptical. This band meant the world to me however in recent times y’all have made it exhausting to belief your phrases, I hope y’all are doing the appropriate factor.

Alongside the identical traces, one other person commented: “An announcement like this could have been good two years in the past, as an alternative of silence till now.”

That stated, Barker’s phrases additionally obtained constructive and understanding responses, akin to from one one that declared: “It’s not your fault. Reform Anti-Flag with out him. We love you!”

Likewise, one other fan recommended Barker’s honesty and directness:

Having been a sufferer your self, this will need to have been extremely painful. Though it took a while, I’ve enormous respect on your resolution to step ahead, see you holding your self accountable and, extra importantly, addressing all victims who suffered from his actions with care. It’s refreshing to see somebody being this direct and displaying actual empathy and compassion for a change, somewhat than simply publishing some generic assertion. Your bass traces have been all the time my favourite half, and I miss listening to your expertise. Be effectively, Chris. I hope you’re protected and supported.

How do you really feel about the entire state of affairs (particularly in gentle of Barker’s apology)? Tell us!

Extra About Justin Sane Sexual Assault Allegations

As Loudwire reported on the time, the allegations towards Sane started in July of 2023, when a girl named Kristina Sarhadi appeared on a podcast referred to as sufficient. and claimed that she was raped by the singer of an unnamed political punk rock band. Across the similar time, listeners on Reddit identified that Sarhadi’s accusations have been doubtless associated to why Anti-Flag introduced their break up and deleted their web site the prior week.

Shortly thereafter, Sane denied the allegations, claiming that “these tales are categorically false” as a result of he had “by no means engaged in a sexual relationship that was not consensual.” In the meantime, Anti-Flag responded to the state of affairs by stating that “this expertise has shaken us to our core.”

Two months later – in September of 2023 – 12 different girls got here ahead with their very own allegations towards Sane. As Loudwire wrote on the time, a “detailed expose” was “uncovered by Rolling Stone” that contained additional accusations of Sane committing “predatory habits, sexual assault and statutory rape” that included “sexual relations with a 12-year-old when the singer was a youngster.”

These incidents have been stated to “stretch again to the Nineteen Nineties,” and sure “accusers claimed the band have been complicit within the alleged abuse” (through Loudwire). In an announcement to Rolling Stone, the opposite members of the group stated that they believed Sane to be “very sick and in want of significant skilled assist,” including:

We wish to have compassion and think about restorative justice, however fuck you for hurting so many individuals, not simply those who’ve bravely come ahead, however anybody nonetheless carrying their ache internally. Fuck you for exploiting the work of the band and the many individuals related to it for thus lengthy. As many predators do, it seems you used our beliefs as a canopy for egregious actions that you simply clearly knew we might by no means condone.

To everybody, we collectively and individually nonetheless have much more questions than solutions on this second. We’ve been studying of and processing all of this info in real-time. We trusted Justin drastically and at the moment are studying that we have been deceived, lied to, and saved at nighttime for the whole thing of our affiliation. For Chris Barker, personally, Justin knew his historical past with trauma: his father has been convicted of sexual abuse of youngsters and is presently incarcerated, his sister was a sufferer of abuse, and Chris himself was sexually abused by an older little one of their neighborhood. We share this to show that Justin was conscious about the visceral response we must such harmful habits. But in addition as a result of sharing a stage for thus lengthy with somebody you later study is an accused predator has been extremely painful to course of and are available to phrases with. Two issues may be true: an individual may be type and selfless in a single area and a monster in one other.

Round 10:30PM on July 18th, we have been alerted {that a} podcast could be launched the following morning detailing a sexual assault involving Justin. We forwarded a message to him that previewed the episode and contained a photograph and identify. Justin responded that he didn’t know this individual. The subsequent morning, when the three of us heard Kristina’s story, it turned obvious to us that he was mendacity. To be true to the values we embraced for many years, we stop the band instantly and with out hesitation. The three of us eliminated the band’s web presence in an try and restrict areas for individuals to assault, antagonize, or hurt Kristina as we tried to get a grasp on this stunning info.

As extra particulars have been shared because the launch of the podcast, we’ve got been ready for Justin to do the appropriate factor. Given his lack of contrition in any significant manner, it is rather clear that he’s completely not the individual we have been led to consider him to be.
We’re uncertain the place our path will lead us. Proper now, phrases really feel hole and no assertion can alleviate the struggling that has been brought about. We’ve an incredible deal to find out about ourselves – with a lot soul-searching and introspection forward. There should be lots of remedy and devotion of time and assets to locations which are geared up to assist with these sorts of traumas. The three of us are nonetheless in shock and grieving, however largely our hearts are damaged for each sufferer. We’re deeply saddened by each one in all your painful tales, and can perpetually be glad about your braveness in sharing them.

Love, therapeutic, and justice to all survivors.

Pat, Chris, and Chris

In January of 2025, Loudwire reported on Chris “No. 2” Barker, Chirrs Head and Pat Thetic being cleared within the case as a part of a New York choose dismissing a part of Sarhadi’s lawsuit. The lawsuit “argued that because the alleged violation befell in a lodge keep funded by the group, they have been responsible for the singer’s actions.” Nonetheless, choose Brenda Okay. Sannes “dismissed that portion of the go well with claiming that there was no authorized foundation to carry the opposite band members accountable and no proof that they have been conscious of the singer’s alleged actions” (per Loudwire).

Lastly, in June of 2025, Sane was ordered to pay Sarhadi “almost $2 million” over the lawsuit. In response to the judgment (through Rolling Stone), Sarhadi chastised Sane over his “silence, absence and cowardice.” She additionally famous that she’s “humbled” by the help she obtained from different survivors who heard her story.

In case you or somebody you already know has been sexually assaulted, assets can be found for assist. Go to the RAINN web site (Rape, Abuse, and Incest Nationwide Community) or dial 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).