Reasonably merely put, “Coalesce has parted methods with their guitarist,” Jes Steineger after a Reddit post went viral wherein a earlier scholar of Steineger described an inappropriate relationship together with her former professor.
Initially stating that “a member of this band taught at my college and was separated from the varsity after his misconduct towards me,” within the publish, the Reddit person went on to element the next within the deleted publish (screenshots of the publish under):
“band referenced is coalesce
I deleted my authentic publish as a result of in truth it was too lengthy and too emotional. I used to be getting numerous backlash due to these issues. Nevertheless, I received just a few DMs that had been very encouraging. I’ve determined to edit and repost, and I simply will not be obsessively checking this publish once more to learn the feedback. This has the whole lot to do with metalcore (for individuals who stated it did not) as a result of ignoring dangerous individuals with giant affect within the scene creates an atmosphere inside it that takes away house from ladies (and males) who’re harmed. It has been months and I’m prepared to talk for myself.
I do not care if individuals assume I am unstable or want remedy. I am in it! And the whole lot I say has documentation to again it up :). Coalesce is aware of this and has seen it.
A member of this band taught at my college and was separated from the varsity after his misconduct towards me. He was my professor and tutorial advisor for over three years.
Throughout my spring 2025 semester, he started touching me and gave me a private, non-university e mail and moved our correspondence there. Over a brief interval we exchanged over 100 emails, lots of them explicitly sexual. In writing, he described me as a sexual object, talked about his urges and previous in sexualizing ladies, talked about my physique, admitted he had a sample of relationships like ours up to now, and known as me “ballerina,” talked about my physique consistently. He was in control of my tutorial future and clearly his emotions had been extra vital than that.
He received me into his workplace after hours. He put his arms throughout me and stated the one factor that stopped him going additional was that he abruptly remembered I used to be “an individual” and that “the divine” fell into his thoughts. (In writing 🙂 ) This isn’t the one time that week he touched me. The college authorized group used this info on high of the e-mail proof to half methods with him. All of the emails had been turned over to the college and to the band afterward by way of my pal. The band is aware of precisely what he did. Their response has been to dam anybody who raises considerations, together with me. All I’ve achieved is sometimes view their tales as a result of I am terrified he’ll smear me publicly as my associates have made strikes with out my consent. I am not asking for his elimination, however it’s insane to me to guard such an individual.
I understand how this can be learn by some individuals: that I am unstable, dramatic, “obsessive about cancel tradition,” that I “needed it,” that I ought to “simply transfer on.” I’ve heard all of it. I do not care. There may be nothing you may say that’s worse than something I’ve informed myself. I will not bore anybody with the main points of the affect this has had on me. I’m not going to enter particulars about my psychological well being and what he knew about it, however he knew I used to be susceptible. He knew the whole lot about it. I’m not pretending I used to be naïve. I’m saying he knew precisely how hooked up I used to be, and the way a lot energy he had, and he used it anyway.
I am not posting this as a result of I “hate” the band or as a result of I take pleasure in drama. I beloved their music for years. Genuinely. They had been who I listened to throughout my ballet heat ups, earlier than competitions, and so on. I’m posting it as a result of I believe individuals need to know who they’re defending once they look the opposite manner. I’m not asking anybody to go after him or the opposite members. I do not need that. I’m assuming he has painted me poorly to them and I need to be understanding of their friendships. I do not know the opposite members and I haven’t got the best to make any claims on their characters, solely his. I’m asking for one thing a lot smaller and, to me, extra vital:
For teams and followers to cease turning a blind eye to males who prey on the ladies they’re supposed to guard. All we do is expose extra ladies to hurt once we permit these males shut.
I’m terrified to talk up, however I do know the one particular person benefitting from my concern is him. I’ve by no means spoken in opposition to him till now. That is all.”
Coalesce then issued their statement to social media in another deleted post, saying the following:
“We’re aware of a Reddit post and related comments making accusations toward our guitarist Jes and, by extension, the band.
Earlier this year, Jes informed us that he had engaged in a mutual but inappropriate email exchange with a 24-year-old student at his university. Given the obvious concerns around power dynamics, we asked to review all correspondences and evidence. We went through everything thoroughly. The physical contact that has been referenced publicly consisted of consensual interactions, which included student-initiated “pinky swears” and two non-sexual hugs, after which he did not pursue or encourage any further physical contact. Nothing resembling sexual misconduct, predation, or assault occurred. No sexually explicit images or materials were exchanged or solicited.
Jes has consistently acknowledged fault for initiating private email contact and for not immediately alerting the university, which contributed to his personal resignation from the academy. This matter arose in an academic context, and while Jes is a member of coalesce, no band-related status, access, or influence played any role in what occurred. There was also no quid pro quo conduct in his role as her professor. The documentation shows that the interaction was mutual, that the student’s attraction pre-dated these events, and it ended when Jes withdrew consent to pursue anything inappropriate.
Jes fucked up. He has repeatedly owned his part. But the narrative now being circulated goes far beyond the facts. After reviewing the evidence ourselves, we stand behind Jes and reject these mischaracterizations.”
The Reddit user then had to add several addendums as issues began progressing on social media:
“Word that I’m not longer updating or modifying this publish anymore. If the rest occurs I’ll get get a lawyer. I cannot replace once more with out authorized recommendation, particularly after they’ve posted what they did to discredit me and the disgusting far more of their fanbase has handled me due to these inaccuracies
Edit 12/24: FIRST: the pinky swear stuff they posted was to HUMILIATE me. Clearly he didn’t get fired for a freaking pinky swear my God let’s all use some pondering abilities. That’s so meaningless. It’s a fucking pinky promise. Who goes after somebody for that? I posted one thing within the feedback displaying he was asking for them after they introduced it up as a result of I used to be getting made enjoyable of. The main focus was meant to be POWER imbalance. I don’t care a couple of pinky promise.
SECOND: Grooming is MESSY. I don’t care. I’ve been torn aside for months and that is nothing new. I’ve confronted institutional retaliation, gaslighting, and the lack of somebody I trusted. Now I’m being placed on blast when I’ve no platform off Reddit. I can even be working to drag the correct bodily occasion data from the college.
I WILL pursue authorized motion in the event that they proceed to publish false info. Particularly after their INCORRECT FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM POSTS.
There are main information shops posting about this with out posting my aspect too. It’s disgusting.
THIRD: STOP EMAILING ME HATE. Oh my God. All emails despatched are being saved to show hurt attributable to the bands publish.
FOURTH: Simply because I’m an grownup doesn’t imply I can’t be taken benefit of. Particularly in UNIVERSITIES. Jesus Christ. He has recognized me since I used to be 20 or 21, has children my age, and a spouse. I don’t assume I’d’ve pulled away from his groping “hug” time and again had I 100% been wanting it. I used to be put into a really robust place and after years of wanting his approval, it felt like I lastly had it. I used to be so hooked up.
I needed him to remain and approve of me. I used to be verbal about that and stated some issues I remorse making an attempt to maintain him from discarding me after making me really feel so particular. My emotions in direction of that or my crush on him don’t = eager to be touched. I’m not even the one who reported him to Title IX, my pal did. We had solely two philosophy professors in our small program, and him and I had historical past. He constructed most of my philosophy schooling. There may be TONS of lacking context on either side as a result of I haven’t went by our entire historical past on right here.
I acquired incapacity lodging from my college as a result of I wrestle very deeply with cptsd, and different issues. He knew this as a result of professors obtain notices each semester for it. He made reviews on my psychological well being up to now to verify I used to be okay as I struggled and remoted (not 2025). He was effectively conscious of my vulnerabilities and the way a lot I seemed as much as him. He had different professors telling him to again off of me in April.
replace 12/23 : some EVIDENCE is on this within the feedback. Scroll all the way down to the feedback. The screenshots are posted beneath the one that has HR expertise remark. I’m getting consistently messaged and I’m simply scared. I needed to show I’m not simply making this up. They received to make an enormous publish, I’m allowed to too. I additionally posted a remark displaying inconsistencies of their publish.
from earlier: this can be my final publish. I’m sorry for everybody i’ve bothered with this the final 24 hours.
I noticed Coalesce posted on Instagram addressing my publish. I additionally noticed the feedback. I by no means meant to make everybody so indignant at me and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for coming into this group and speaking about what occurred to me with Jes. I by no means named him straight within the publish. The “two hugs and a pinky promise” stuff is just not even correct. He additionally didn’t cease his habits after that workplace occasion. No college elements methods with somebody over two hugs and a pinky promise. he resigned as a result of authorized and hr stepped in. he resigned as a result of there was a mountain of written proof. Universities don’t invoke their authorized group over a pinky promise and a hug. It’s simply minimizing me and what occurred however I’ve realized talking up was a mistake. I’m not in a position to stand in opposition to a bunch who has such a protracted standing fan base or platform. And I’m sorry. I anticipate extra hate beneath this, i can be deleting this app after i publish this. edit I’m weak and got here again to obsessively learn feedback as a result of I’m terrified
I do know nobody cares. I’ve gotten dying threats and a lot hate for simply talking up about what occurred to me with this band member. this has actually been the ultimate hit on this for me. I’m humiliated and really feel so silly for pondering i may have house in my very own trauma. i simply needed to come back right here to speak about what Jes did to me to open dialogue about what it seems like for band members to maintain these males round and have them in these areas regardless of figuring out what they did. it took the whole lot in me to talk up. It was by no means my duty to handle my lengthy standing professors emotions and actions in direction of me.
I don’t know what i anticipated even. I simply needed to share my story with a band member. I’m sorry
The screenshots in query could be seen under.
Roadburn Fest broke the information in regards to the band parting methods with Steineger when the pageant needed to announce that “Coalesce have cancelled their upcoming European tour and sadly that features their deliberate efficiency at Roadburn 2026.
The band commented: “Coalesce has parted methods with their guitarist and, because of this, can be unable to satisfy the upcoming exhibits.””
