Consequence of Sound is reporting that James Frost-Winn, a Seattle-based trumpet player, has accused Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley of making unwanted sexual advances and comments throughout the decade that the two knew each other. Frost-Winn worked for Tinsley as a member of the band Crystal Garden from about 2015 through 2016.
Frost-Winn filed a lawsuit on May 17th in Washington state, alleging that Tinsley created a “hostile work environment” where compliance with sex-based demands was tied to the band’s success. The suit seeks $9 million in damages.
As Frost-Winn fell asleep on the couch in the studio one time, Tinsley allegedly touched his legs, rubbed his back, and put his feet on his buttocks. “It not only creeped me out, but I thought it was really annoying because I was trying to sleep,” he recalls.
Frost-Winn eventually dozed off. “I don’t know how long I was asleep, but when I came to, he was masturbating next to me while I was sleeping, and he had his hand on my ass,” he says. “He was climaxing.” Frost-Winn freaked out and ran to another part of the house while Tinsley followed after him; he eventually came back to the studio.
“I sat there for hours; I was so freaked out,” he explains. “I felt assaulted. It was something I didn’t expect from him. I was contemplating how to stay in the project — it’s such a big opportunity, but my trust had been affected.”
Tinsley blamed the incident on “a pill mix-up” and said he wasn’t in his right mind.
“I believed him. I knew he was on a few kinds of meds. I forgave him but said it would take a while to begin trusting him again.”
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