'Say Anything' frontman Max Bemis is facing a growing wave of allegations from young fans over inappropriate messages, and within days the fallout has sunk a finished album, postponed his US shows, and sent ticket-holders chasing refunds.
The claims began on the r/SayAnything forum, where a 17-year-old who posted as Maxine said Bemis, 42, contacted her for about six months from around March and allegedly knew she was under 18. She said their conversations turned personal and sexual, and she shared screenshots that have not been independently authenticated.
A second fan, aged 19, then posted her own screenshots, which she said showed Bemis talking about being single and an attraction to younger people after she raised their age gap. Maxine, who described herself as a trafficking survivor, said Bemis was aware of her situation. He has not publicly addressed the specific claims. Many fans said the posts matched rumours they had traded for years, and noted that Bemis had once condemned this kind of behaviour among his pop-punk peers.
On 29 August, a post on Say Anything's Instagram account said Bemis would step back 'due to the need to prioritise his mental health and personal well-being' and asked fans to respect his privacy. It did not mention the allegations.
The band left the comments open, and the thread quickly filled with fans accusing it of using well-being language to sidestep the accusations. For many, the statement itself became the flashpoint, not the messages. Critics argue that framing a step back around well-being, while comments stayed open, let the band control the narrative without answering what fans say the screenshots show.
The business damage landed fast. Wavves frontman Nathan Williams scrapped Cherry Soda, the collaborative album due on 18 September, saying he no longer wanted to be associated with Bemis. Williams said he spent 11 months making the record while Bemis spent only a few days, and that Bemis was credited on seven of its 10 tracks.
He estimated the decision could cost him around $200,000 (£148,000), with 10,000 vinyl copies already pressed. Williams suggested the album could still be salvaged by stripping out Bemis's parts, though that would delay any release.
Wavves and Say Anything announced the 10-track album in July through I Surrender Records, with Aaron Rubin producing and the singles 'Deathx1k' and 'Still Alive' already released. Williams also posted a blunt public message on Instagram distancing himself from Bemis.
For fans, the immediate hit is practical. The postponed US dates leave ticket-holders seeking refunds through their original points of purchase, with no replacement shows announced.
The wider stakes are bigger. The case has become a live test of how the music industry responds to allegations involving minors in real time, and of whether stepping away for mental health reads as accountability or as a way to avoid it. It also lands as US labels and promoters face renewed pressure to act quickly when the accuser is a minor, rather than waiting for courts or contracts to decide. For now, Bemis's silence and a scrapped album have answered more than any statement has.
© Copyright IBTimes 2026. All rights reserved.
