NewsMarch 24, 2023 8:45 PM ET13,378 views

Sargent House founder Cathy Pellow steps away from label amid allegations of inappropriate behavior

Cathy Pellow

Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times

Musician Henry Kohen, known for his work as Mylets, has accused Sargent House founder Cathy Pellow and Graeme Flegenheimer, a former associate of the label, of inappropriate behavior. Kohen claims that in 2015, Flegenheimer molested him while he was trying to kick him out of a communal residence shared by Sargent House employees. Kohen also stated that he informed Pellow about the incident but was met with silence and dismissal.

Kohen's written statement accuses Pellow of routine extreme degradation and verbal abuse of employees and artists, intentional belittling and manipulation leading to rivalries and insecurities within the artist base, and purposeful withholding of financial information except when making vague allusions to how indebted the artists were to her.


Several former Sargent House artists and employees have voiced their support for Kohen's accusations. Chelsea Wolfe shared Kohen's statement on her Instagram story, and King Woman vocalist Kristina Esfandiari voiced her support for Wolfe's comments regarding Pellow. Lingua Ignota's Kristin Hayter also posted a message on Instagram, stating that she had ended her relationship with Pellow last year.

In response to the accusations, Pellow issued a statement apologizing to Kohen and any past employees or artists who have been negatively impacted by her actions. Pellow announced that she would be stepping away from Sargent House to focus on fixing these issues and taking care of her own mental health. Pellow has also closed the management side of Sargent House and will be stepping away from the label.

Sargent House is a label and management firm that represents several notable artists, including Botch, Brutus, The Armed, and Mylets.

"First I'd like to say thank you to the friends, former/current SH artists and employees, and fans who have reached out to show support and share their own experiences. I would like to be transparent here and acknowledge that Cathy has reached out to me privately, expressing curiosity around my previous video.

It is important to me that there is an understanding that this issue transcends any of my own personal experiences and that, even in the event that any of the following may be lost memories for Cathy, there is an undeniable culture and pattern of behavior that is ingrained in the foundation of Sargent House that needs to be addressed. I would like to speak about two occurrences that I personally went through and then touch on the bigger picture.

In September 2015 when I was 19 and still living in Sargent House I was molested by venue owner and Sargent House-regular Graeme Flegenheimer while trying to kick him out of the house. I told Cathy about this, about how he had lingered around after a party until everyone left and began asking me extremely inappropriate questions, how he groped me and made passes at me after I refused to get into a bed with him, how he had climbed the front wall of the house to get back inside and searched for me after I locked him out, how he had then proceeded to send me insulting and explicit text messages throughout that night.

I was not taken seriously, met with essentially a shrug and an awkward laugh, and a few nights later I arrived to the house to find him back over as a dinner guest. Their professional and personal relationship remained intact for long after I had told Cathy.

This was the impetus for me deciding to move out of Sargent House, a move that would also lead away from my aspirations of having a life centered around music. I had heard Cathy strongly and publicly condemn perpetrators and advocate for victims using the Sargent House platform and the lack of acknowledgement or action thoroughly contributed to my suppression and denial of what had happened to me.

In October 2013, when I was just 17, at a show in Chicago on my very first North American tour, Cathy took me aside and told me with the utmost gravity to never ever forget that the only reason anyone would ever pay attention or value my music was because of her.

I truly have never forgotten this! Later this same night, she would walk all over and damage my records and shirts with muddy shoes and eventually go on to call my Mom a cunt in front of the entire tour line-up, my parents, and fans who had stuck around.

I am embarrassed to talk about either of these events and they certainly are not the extent of my experiences, but I deserve to exorcise them from my head and they are also important in understanding the culture surrounding Sargent House.

I witnessed routine extreme degradation and verbal abuse of employees and artists, intentional belittling and manipulation leading to rivalries and insecurities within the artist-base, blatant and even proudly misogynistic language surrounding the 'acquisition' of emotionally-vulnerable female artists, purposeful withholding of financial information except when making vague allusions to how indebted the artists were to her, open disdain for the fan bases of bands, forceful and targeted breaking of artists and employee's personal boundaries, and an all-encompassing process of 'othering' that instilled a constant feeling of paranoia.

I have no ambitions to 'cancel' Cathy, to shut down Sargent House, no feelings of vindictiveness. What I am asking for is for there to be an acknowledgement of past behaviors in order to assure any artists, employees, or fans that this type of systematic treatment is no longer tolerable and that those who have been hurt can get accountability without the fear of having to put themselves on the line legally or financially and without having to revisit existentially embarrassing or hurtful times of their lives.

Through the label's constructed outward messaging and aesthetic, many people are drawn to join Sargent House whether as artists, employees, or devoted fans and I believe these people all deserve an impression built on good faith when considering pouring themselves into a brand.

To those of you who could speak alongside me here, I ask that you please please do (providing you are currently legally able to). Though I cannot speak for you, I promise I remember your struggles and pain as well and I know that you carry your experiences in the same way I do.

I have nothing to promote or gain through this and I am not unhappy with the current state of my life, I am not a disgruntled ex-musician or seeking attention through my grief. I want to especially thank those few adult musicians and employees who took the time to earnestly check in on me as a person when I was still a teenager; seeing past cliques or industry careers and just recognizing a naive young man who probably didn't understand what he was in the middle of.

At the time I detested your efforts and I understood you to be bitter ex-devotees who had simply failed to adhere to the guidance and genius of Cathy's leadership.

Thank you all for taking the time to read or listen to this, I feel shame, embarrassment, and loneliness as I finish writing here. It is no accident that I feel these feelings now in the same way that it is no accident that it has taken me close to a decade to speak up about something that follows me every day. It feels treasonous.
———
Cathy,

Your last text to me was sent after I came out publicly as queer. You said: 'Sending love to you Henry. I'm so happy you were able to share your truth today.'

I do not expect this to be an easy process for you, I hope you will see value reflected in my truth and that others will provide their truths as well.

I believe that Sargent House truly deserves this, not to be torn down, but to be held to the standard it purports to

Henry"


Pellow responded with her own statement on the matter:

"I have been trying to gather the right words to say in light of a recent video uploaded to social media by an artist I managed named Henry Kohen in which he shared some experiences during his time living at my office / home.

To Henry, I sincerely apologize and had no idea how much my words and actions hurt you. I have sent you a private message that further expresses my regret about the events that impacted you. If you choose to share that message publicly, that is of course your decision to make.

I also want to apologize to any past employees or artists who have been negatively impacted by my actions. I've been too oblivious and unaware of the harm that my bad behavior had caused, I know that doesn't excuse the facts and I take responsibility for any pain I brought to those around me. I feel ashamed and am truly remorseful.

I want to do right by those I have let down and I am open and welcoming to anyone who would be willing to have a conversation with me. I see now how offensive I was to a lot of people, but I am human and hopefully deserving of a chance to make amends.

Sobriety has been really important to me in recent years, especially during and after the pandemic. I do not expect to gain any sympathy from anyone, but I am no longer the person I used to be, and I am striving to become a better person and correct my past mistakes. With that in mind, I have closed the management side and will be stepping away from Sargent House to focus on the things I can do to fix these issues and take care of my own mental health.

I am the only one that can account for my actions, so I ask that people direct their anger or disappointment towards me and not toward any of the artists associated past or present. I hope fans of the music released through Sargent House can separate my shortcomings from the work done for and by the artists that we all love and cherish, they should not take any blame for this.

There is a lot of work ahead and I am only beginning this process. I have created a personal Instagram account @cathyp_1956 so that I can continue the conversations without being a distraction to the artists and people that continue to do amazing work at Sargent House"

64 comments

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anonymous 3/24/2023 6:17:46 PM

she GOO'd in them

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:21:45 PM

Lol

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:21:47 PM

f*ck you Cathy

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:23:22 PM

she botch'd that label

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:24:23 PM

Tony from victory rented a boat and we did cocaine with strippers when we signed. How a label should be

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:24:57 PM

Who cares? And why?

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:26:00 PM

My Pellow

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:30:28 PM

win/win Gets to live her truth for sticking up to the homosexual agenda and still have her company run by her other employees

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:32:29 PM

I can't tell what that is in the photo

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:32:47 PM

If you think I will read all that you're loco

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:36:27 PM

Never heard of any of these people. f*ck 'em.

anonymous 3/24/2023 6:38:49 PM

Woke idiots, real assholes

NorthFromHere 3/24/2023 6:56:54 PM

LA should not have as much power in the music industry as it does. No reason for it to be Hollywood light for music.

anonymous 3/24/2023 7:31:35 PM

Sgt. Slaughter >

anonymous 3/24/2023 7:45:59 PM

Not reading any of that. Some guys bums around and sleeps on a communal couch and another touches his Weiner, then a lady gaslights him basically and he cries about it. They all sound like pieces of shit.

anonymous 3/24/2023 8:08:20 PM

No care ever, never heard of a single one of these woke cucks. Cathy can touch my Pellow any day. -TONY BRUMMEL

anonymous 3/24/2023 8:14:20 PM

Regulate's drummer sexually assaulted a girl and has never suffered consequences for it.

anonymous 3/24/2023 8:32:59 PM

This subject is an extreme waste of time. Not reading all that.

anonymous 3/24/2023 9:07:36 PM

Conservative cucks are stoked

anonymous 3/24/2023 9:52:46 PM

I'll reserve my judgment until we hear what Zulu thinks of this

anonymous 3/24/2023 10:35:09 PM

Regulate's drummer sexually assaulted a girl and has never suffered consequences for it. Then go do something about it Officer

anonymous 3/25/2023 5:17:55 AM

Bunch of f*cking people no one has ever heard of acting like they've just been convicted of murder bc some manbaby rubbed his dick on a couch or something.

anonymous 3/25/2023 5:21:45 AM

Having dealt with Cathy over a 3 year period - none of this surprises me. Rude, arrogant, fake, egotistical asshole.

anonymous 3/25/2023 6:29:46 AM

Just to be clear she's just a fella that dresses up like Martha Stewart?

anonymous 3/25/2023 6:30:14 AM

Sargent House is a label and management firm that represents several notable artists, including Botch, Brutus, The Armed, and Mylets. "Notable" cope. None of those bands are notable except botch and they're not even a blip on the radar as far as relevance.

anonymous 3/25/2023 6:37:45 AM

AAACCKKK!!!!

anonymous 3/25/2023 6:57:41 AM

Mommy needed that stank on her hang down.

anonymous 3/25/2023 6:59:08 AM

f*cking who?

anonymous 3/25/2023 6:59:42 AM

Typical groomer behavior.

anonymous 3/25/2023 7:02:07 AM

Groomer stuff

rick____tocchet 3/25/2023 7:16:07 AM

Whats up with that picture?

anonymous 3/25/2023 7:18:34 AM

DERP I live in communal living DERP there's nothing weird about all employees living together DERP

anonymous 3/25/2023 7:23:49 AM

Rick I was thinking the same thing lol. The photo is ultra weird but judging by that photo she does look like a c*nt.

anonymous 3/25/2023 7:28:40 AM

I wish Monentum would burst into Sargent House and just start blasting

anonymous 3/25/2023 7:34:14 AM

Regulate's drummer sexually assaulted a girl and has never suffered consequences for it. Then go do something about it Officer >>> If I could find the woman he sexually assaulted I would urge her to finally speak out & confirm what HE HARRY CORRIGAN admitted to doing to her in public statement & try to press charges. That statement would be gift to any prosecutor. Keep simping for Regulate you clown.

anonymous 3/25/2023 7:35:20 AM

I wish Monentum would burst into Sargent House and just start blasting It's Momentum with three Ms you moron. Momentum doesn't own a gun.

PoultryInMotion 3/25/2023 7:50:32 AM

he molested those dogs in the pic for sure

anonymous 3/25/2023 8:10:07 AM

^ Had to.

anonymous 3/25/2023 8:18:33 AM

If I could find the woman he sexually assaulted I would urge her to finally speak out & confirm what HE HARRY CORRIGAN admitted to doing to her in public statement & try to press charges. That statement would be gift to any prosecutor. - Yes your honor, a decade ago a guy asked me for a blowjob when we were hooking up, I said no, and he left, give him the electric chair. You can still find the tumblr posts from all that stuff (because of course it's only ever on tumblr since it's the only place mentally ill women know they'll be able to find room temp IQ dumps like yourself), you either don't know what you're talking about or are willfully lying to make yourself look like a white knight. You wanna play cop so bad go join the academy, but you'd have to start taking your meds.

anonymous 3/25/2023 8:18:58 AM

Homosexuality is primarily a predatory addiction striving to take the weak and unsuspecting down with it, especially when alcohol can be used to blame. His intention is to bring down the label because he regretted his relationship with the boss after initiating it and signing a consent contract.

anonymous 3/25/2023 8:20:55 AM

Regulate guy didn't do anything wrong, he ended up hooking up with a crazy who wrote tumblr rants to destroy his character after the fact

anonymous 3/25/2023 9:36:58 AM

I'm horny

rick____tocchet 3/25/2023 9:41:44 AM

Id hate f*ck that chick. She looks like she is into some kinky shit.

anonymous 3/25/2023 9:58:23 AM

Can we have Daughters back now?

anonymous 3/25/2023 10:04:50 AM

Only in this day and age someone complains and tries to cancel a horny milf

anonymous 3/25/2023 10:22:17 AM

I hate people. I'm anxiously awaiting the meteor.

anonymous 3/25/2023 10:45:57 AM

I wonder if Cathy ever scissored with any of her female artists. She must have. Picturing it now *masturbating furiously*

anonymous 3/25/2023 10:56:45 AM

Imagine developing an ego for owning a shitty record company that works with unknown bands the entire world doesn't give a f*ck about it.

anonymous 3/25/2023 10:58:43 AM

lingua ignota is doing an entire concept album about the incident

anonymous 3/25/2023 11:08:54 AM

Doesn't this bum realize there are starving kids in Ukraine? What about the systemic racism at home? I'm sorry, I only believe all women, not this clown. Suck it up, buttercup

anonymous 3/25/2023 11:13:13 AM

Waaah, some weirdo tried to touch my jerk on the communal couch. Waaaahhhh, boss lady was mean to me. Gayest sh!t ever, and I'm a leftist.

anonymous 3/25/2023 11:14:21 AM

^also conveniently has new music coming out. Another PR stunt

anonymous 3/25/2023 11:27:18 AM

THATS MY PURSE I DONT KNOW YOU

anonymous 3/25/2023 12:03:46 PM

"They all sound like pieces of shit." ^Nailed it

anonymous 3/25/2023 12:11:39 PM

Soy detected.I'm no longer ashamed of having listened to The Mars Volta. Donald Trump is sick bro. F. Had a cardio, and HIT day at the gym yesterday. "Pony Express Record" was bumpin' the entire time. Me? Incel? Methinks thou doth protest too much. SINCERELY, ShadowGay.

anonymous 3/25/2023 1:01:43 PM

I'd never belittle someone's sexual assault, but to go this f*cking hard and scream molestation because someone brushed your dick over your pants? Swing on the f*cker and press charges you tumblr baby

anonymous 3/25/2023 1:11:44 PM

Could have dealt with this "miscommunication" privately but decides to complain on social media

anonymous 3/25/2023 1:26:44 PM

Kid seems like an absolute drama queen liar but so does Lingua and they let her ruin Daughters so can't say I'm surprised that they've surrounded themselves with hoaxers

anonymous 3/25/2023 4:48:49 PM

Waaah, some weirdo tried to touch my jerk on the communal couch. Waaaahhhh, boss lady was mean to me. Gayest sh!t ever, and I'm a leftist. ^^^^^ Greatest comment of all time.

anonymous 3/25/2023 5:26:16 PM

Breaking news: women unable to be friends

anonymous 3/25/2023 7:31:59 PM

I genuinely didn't know Sargent House was, in a way, involving a literal house. Just thought it was a really pretentious label of not so great artists. Do 'antifa' members live there too? lol.

anonymous 3/27/2023 8:14:07 AM

Wait, so Sargent House was just a house everyone partied at?

anonymous 3/27/2023 1:46:06 PM

holy lol this is all so petty and dumb.

anonymous 3/29/2023 2:03:39 PM

Not surprised. Cathy is a terrible human.




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