Rex Orange County has shared a statement revealing he has been cleared of sexual assault claims after charges against him were dropped. The singer, whose real name is Alex O’Connor, was charged with sexually assaulting a woman on six separate occasions, twice in London’s West End, once in a taxi, and three times at his home in Notting Hill, as first reported by The Sun. He plead not guilty to all charges at Southwark Crown Court and was set to face trial on January 3, 2023.
“Today, all charges against me have been dropped,” O’Connor said in his statement. “The Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the evidence and decided that there is no merit in this case going to trial. I have always denied these allegations and am grateful that the independent evidence has cleared me of any wrongdoing. I have never assaulted anyone and I do not condone violence or abusive behaviour of any kind.”
“ I would like to clarify some details around what I was accused of, as I have not been able to address this until now and inaccuracies about the case have circulated,” he continued. I was wrongly accused of touching someone one evening on their leg, neck, back, and bottom. That led to six charges of sexual assault. The only evidence against me was the individual’s account. However, CCTV footage obtained by the police contradicted their version of events. Their partner was also present throughout the evening in question and gave a statement to the police which did not support the allegations against me.”
O’Connor added: “It’s been a difficult time for everyone involved and I’d like to thank the people who have helped me through it as well as my family and loved ones for their continued support.”
A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service told The Sun: “CPS prosecutors have a duty to keep each case under review. Having carefully considered all the evidence, our legal test for a prosecution was no longer met and so we will not be continuing a prosecution. We will always seek to prosecute sexual offences, where our legal test is met, no matter how challenging.”
— rex orange county (@rexorangecounty) December 22, 2022
