Jeff Becerra Addresses Teenage Fan’s Claims
The frontman of Possessed, Jeff Becerra, has recently addressed serious allegations from a teenage fan who accused him of inappropriate behavior and solicitation for nude photographs. This issue came to light following the leak of screenshots from a conversation purportedly between Becerra and a 16-year-old girl named Sophia, which appeared online in November. In addition to the text messages, an audio clip surfaced where Becerra reportedly remarked, “If I was your age, we would’ve had pretty little Mexican babies,” raising further concerns about the nature of their interactions.
In light of these revelations, Sophia was invited to share her experiences on the Kill the Posers podcast, where she detailed the evolution of her online friendship with the musician, shedding light on the troubling dynamics involved.
Detailed Insights Into Sophia’s Conversations With Jeff Becerra
During her podcast appearance, one of the first revelations made by Sophia was about a “bulge picture” that she claimed to have received from Becerra. Although he deleted the image shortly after sending it, she expressed her frustration at not being able to capture a screenshot for evidence. This incident reflects the troubling nature of their exchanges.
Sophia clarified that she did not leak the other text messages that circulated online but had shared them with a few friends and her boyfriend at the time. She noted that once these messages began spreading on social media, she faced intense harassment and insults from others, significantly impacting her emotional well-being.
As the conversation progressed, Sophia openly admitted that she had developed “a little bit of a crush” on Becerra, which motivated her to engage with him. She even posed a question about whether he would have dated her if they had met in the 1980s, illustrating her admiration for him as an artist.
In another segment of their discussions, Sophia recounted an instance where she expressed her boredom and mentioned plans to “goon.” In response, Becerra allegedly requested that she send him pictures and asked to keep their chats private. She also highlighted other moments when he made comments she found inappropriate, along with his requests not to take screenshots of their conversations.
Reflecting on the situation, Sophia expressed her disbelief at the turn of events, stating, “This shit is all just insane to me because I really didn’t expect any of this stuff to happen because he’s somebody that I really looked up to.” She conveyed her disappointment, mentioning how her friends were aware of her admiration for the band, making the situation even more painful.
Ultimately, Sophia shared that her motivation for appearing on the podcast was to “spread awareness” about the troubling occurrences in the music industry, emphasizing the need for vigilance against predatory behavior.
She stated emphatically, “I just want to get the word out there and just let people know that pedos do not belong in the metal community whatsoever,” signaling her commitment to raising awareness and advocating for a safer environment for fans.
Teenage Fan Alleges Inappropriate Conversations with Jeff Becerra
Jeff Becerra’s Response to the Allegations
In response to the allegations, Becerra released a statement to MetalSucks. He confirmed that he had initiated an online conversation with the 16-year-old fan and her boyfriend, noting that he often engages with fans through digital platforms.
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Becerra detailed that his interactions with Sophia began in August when he provided her and her boyfriend with VIP tickets to a Possessed concert. However, he claimed that following his surgery in October, the tone of their conversations took a troubling turn, leading him to ultimately block her due to what he described as “off-color comments.” He accepted full responsibility for being “too cavalier” and acknowledged that his humor was misinterpreted.
He further elaborated, “Because of my condition, I’m bedridden except for when I tour or go to doctor’s appointments. It is beyond ridiculous to think that I’d be chasing around young girls in my condition or that I would EVER want to, by any means. Never in a million years would I try to sneak around with a 16-year-old kid; I saw her as a fan,” emphasizing the disparity between perception and reality.
In his detailed statement, he sought to clarify the situation, saying, “There is something that I want to address with you before it gets out of hand. And hopefully clear things up. Or at the very least, add some perspective.” He described how their conversations were initially focused on music and were respectful, stating that he wanted to support her band.
However, he recounted that after his surgery, the dynamics shifted, and he found himself uncomfortable with the direction of their discussions. “Several times I said I’m not comfortable with this and let her know as kindly and gently as possible. I’m old enough to be her father, or grandfather for that matter,” he noted, acknowledging his failure to set boundaries earlier.
Becerra confessed, “My mistake was trying to be too cavalier about it, making too many jokes, especially when taken out of context and cut together it can seem damning.” He explained that the context of their conversations was crucial to understanding his intentions and the nature of their interactions.
He continued to express his concern regarding the portrayal of their exchanges, stating, “I want to set the record straight because the way this is being portrayed online does not accurately show our interactions.” Becerra stressed that he never pressured her into anything or sought to exploit their relationship.
He also mentioned that following his decision to block her, Sophia connected with his ex-girlfriend, who he claimed has a history of spreading negative narratives about him. Becerra accused her of releasing misleading screenshots that misrepresented the context of their discussions, further complicating the situation.
In closing, Becerra emphasized that he has always valued his reputation and connection with fans, asserting, “I have worked my entire life and made my name and band around my exemplary reputation, my love of Metal, my love for my fans and my supporters.” He expressed his commitment to learning from this experience and being more mindful in the future.
Becerra concluded with a heartfelt message about his dedication to music and fans, stating, “I just want to play for you and continue with this life that never seems to happen. And to those who have defended me, thank you, you are the best and the reason I keep going.” He emphasized his need to focus on recovery due to his health condition.
~Stay Blessed, Stay Possessed-~Jeff~
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