Bassist David Desrosiers leaves Simple Plan after misconduct allegations

Advertisement

Advertise with us

The bassist for Montreal rock band Simple Plan is leaving the group following anonymous sexual misconduct allegations against him on social media.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/07/2020 (2284 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The bassist for Montreal rock band Simple Plan is leaving the group following anonymous sexual misconduct allegations against him on social media.

David Desrosiers posted an apology on Instagram Thursday for the “harm” he has caused women.

An anonymous accuser on social media posted on Wednesday that Desrosiers started making inappropriate “jokes” with her when she was a minor, and they had consensual sex after she came of age. She alleged he invited others for group sex without asking her, threatened and demeaned her.

Members of Simple Plan are seen in a Montreal studio Friday, Oct. 10, 2008. The bassist for Montreal rock band Simple Plan is leaving the group following anonymous sexual misconduct allegations against him on social media. David Desrosiers posted an apology on Instagram Thursday for the
Members of Simple Plan are seen in a Montreal studio Friday, Oct. 10, 2008. The bassist for Montreal rock band Simple Plan is leaving the group following anonymous sexual misconduct allegations against him on social media. David Desrosiers posted an apology on Instagram Thursday for the "harm" he has caused women. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Desrosiers wrote on Instagram that allegations “have led me to acknowledge that some of the interactions I have had with women have caused them harm.”

He said he was sorry for the harm he caused, and said he would seek “professional help to educate myself and act appropriately in the future.”

In a statement on Instagram, Simple Plan also apologized to the women affected as well as to fans who are disappointed by the “regretful situation.”

A representative for the band said there will be no further comment at this time.

The group, which became known for its pop-punk sound in the 2000s, says it will be taking time to “pause” and reflect on how to prevent such situations going forward.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2020.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Puppies, stocks — ‘zoomies’ abound

Andrew Froese 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

This spring, I adopted a three-month-old rescued German Shepherd mix. To say she is easily excitable is an understatement.

It is not really her fault. A puppy’s frontal cortex, the part of the brain that helps with decision-making and impulse control, is still developing. When an older dog, or a human, gets tired, we generally understand we should rest. Puppies have not quite figured that out. They often interpret tiredness as a signal something is wrong, which makes them more alert, more reactive and harder to settle.

That creates a feedback loop. The puppy gets tired, which makes her frantic, which makes her more tired, which makes her even more frantic. Eventually, this becomes what people call the “zoomies”: frantic sprinting, biting, jumping and general chaos.

From the outside, it looks like the puppy has too much energy. In reality, the opposite is true. The zoomies are not a sign of excess energy. They are a sign the puppy is overtired and does not know it yet.

Jets encouraged by play through first five games

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Jets encouraged by play through first five games

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Yesterday at 4:21 PM CDT

Turkey. Stuffing. And a heaping helping of rest and recovery.

The Winnipeg Jets have plenty to be thankful for this holiday weekend, including a solid 3-1-1 start to the NHL campaign. Players and coaches are also counting their blessings at finally getting a breather after a busy stretch of five games in eight days.

“We don’t have another (break like this) until a week before Christmas. So we’re going to take advantage of it,” head coach Scott Arniel said following the club’s first regulation loss, a 5-1 stinker on Friday night against the visiting Anaheim Ducks.

To borrow a funny old Thanksgiving-related phrase from former defenceman Nate Schmidt, the hockey club was “leaking gravy.” They looked like a group that could use a timeout — which they’ll get since they don’t play again until hosting the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.

Read
Yesterday at 4:21 PM CDT

Late philanthropist, family fill Harvest’s Empty Bowls with record-setting $5-M donation

Morgan Modjeski 3 minute read Preview

Late philanthropist, family fill Harvest’s Empty Bowls with record-setting $5-M donation

Morgan Modjeski 3 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

It was a record-breaking night for Harvest Manitoba made possible by a genuine Winnipeg hero and his family.

The organization’s annual Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Dinner on Thursday raised $6.5 million to support Manitobans facing hunger and food insecurity.

And it was a $5-million legacy donation from late city philanthropist Doug Harvey and his family that will see the event go down in the history books as the largest gala fundraising total ever recorded in Manitoba.

“There was literally nothing that lit my dad up more than contributing himself, but even more so, inspiring others to give,” his daughter Lauren Harvey said Friday.

Read
Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Business in brief: Kinew, Canadian ambassador to U.S. discuss trade

Free Press staff 2 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Canada’s ambassador to the United States met Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and local business leaders during a visit to Winnipeg this week.

Mark Wiseman and Kinew spoke about trade uncertainty with the United States and opportunities for Manitoba businesses, a government news release says.

The provincial U.S. Trade Council, the Business Council of Manitoba and part of the Premier’s Business and Jobs Council spoke to Wiseman about the impacts of trade uncertainty.

Province down 4,400 jobsEmployment dropped 0.6 per cent in Manitoba in September, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

Person killed in workplace accident at Fairmont construction site

Morgan Modjeski 3 minute read Preview

Person killed in workplace accident at Fairmont construction site

Morgan Modjeski 3 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Emergency responders were on scene and Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health is investigating after a worker died following an incident at a Winnipeg construction site Thursday.

Little information about the worker killed was provided, but the fatal incident happened at the Fairmont Winnipeg, located at 2 Lombard Place, with police responding around 5 p.m.

The hotel is currently closed and is an active construction site. The person killed has not been identified by name.

Information from a provincial spokesperson said the deceased was working for Kepsco Construction when they were fatally injured after a “portion of an overhead canopy collapsed during asbestos abatement work.”

Read
Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Bassist leaves Simple Plan after misconduct allegations

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Bassist leaves Simple Plan after misconduct allegations

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Jul. 10, 2020

The bassist for Montreal rock band Simple Plan is leaving the group following anonymous sexual misconduct allegations against him on social media.

David Desrosiers posted an apology on Instagram Thursday for the "harm" he has caused women.

An anonymous accuser on social media posted on Wednesday that Desrosiers started making inappropriate "jokes" with her when she was a minor, and they had consensual sex after she came of age. She alleged he invited others for group sex without asking her, threatened and demeaned her.

Desrosiers wrote on Instagram that allegations "have led me to acknowledge that some of the interactions I have had with women have caused them harm."

Read
Friday, Jul. 10, 2020