{"id":7834,"date":"2026-01-06T00:47:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T00:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/royel-otis-guitarist-identify-sexual-misconduct-accusers\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T00:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T00:47:50","slug":"royel-otis-guitarist-identify-sexual-misconduct-accusers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/royel-otis-guitarist-identify-sexual-misconduct-accusers\/","title":{"rendered":"Royel Otis Guitarist Can\u2019t Identify Reddit Sex Misconduct Accusers, Judge\u00a0Says"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tA judge has denied <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/royel-otis\/\">Royel Otis<\/a> guitarist Royel Maddell\u2019s attempt to identify the anonymous Reddit users who accused him of grooming an underage student when he was a music teacher.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIn a Dec. 24 order, Judge William Alsup said Maddell (real name Leroy Bressington) hasn\u2019t met the requirements for a subpoena unmasking the Redditors who claimed he had been found guilty of having sex with a minor pupil. Maddell said he needed this information to bring a defamation lawsuit in his home state of Australia \u2014 but the federal judge was unconvinced that the guitarist would actually follow through.<\/p>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story \/\/ lrv-u-display-inline-block lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-margin-t-2 u-margin-t-26@mobile-max u-margin-b-0.875@mobile-max u-margin-b-150@tablet u-border-t-12 lrv-u-padding-t-025 u-padding-b-1.313 lrv-u-padding-b-125@mobile-max lrv-u-border-color-black\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  lrv-a-unstyle-link lrv-u-whitespace-nowrap u-font-weight-700 lrv-u-display-inline-block u-line-height-18px a-font-accent u-letter-spacing-0225 u-font-size-16 lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-article-badge-underline a-article-esp u-display-inline-flex lrv-u-margin-b-1@mobile-max u-margin-b-9@tablet\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<div class=\"injected-related-story-wrapper lrv-u-flex lrv-u-justify-content-space-between lrv-u-padding-tb-050@desktop a-children-border-vertical a-children-border--grey a-children-border-width-050\">\n<div class=\"o-card \">\n<p>\t\t\t<a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/music-news\/royel-otis-apology-allegations-misogynistic-lyrics-1235980740\/\" class=\"lrv-u-color-black:hover lrv-u-flex u-flex-direction-column@desktop\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-margin-b-075 lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/pro\/royel-otis-guitarist-identify-sexual-misconduct-accusers\/\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Royel-Otis-cr-Georges-Antoni-press-2024-billboard-1548.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"Royel Otis\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"auto\" height=\"\" width=\"\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content \">\n<p><span class=\"c-span  lrv-u-whitespace-nowrap\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"o_category \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-font-basic-fancy u-font-size-15 u-font-size-15.5@mobile-max u-line-height-22px u-padding-r-0.188@desktop u-word-spacing-0013 u-line-height-22.5px@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRoyel Otis Issue Apology Following Allegations of Misogynistic Lyrics in New\u00a0Single\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<p><time class=\"c-timestamp  \" datetime=\"00:00-YY-DD-MM\"><\/p>\n<p><\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card \">\n<p>\t\t\t<a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/business\/legal\/kennedy-center-president-chuck-redd-lawsuit-letter-trump-1236146270\/\" class=\"lrv-u-color-black:hover lrv-u-flex u-flex-direction-column@desktop\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-margin-b-075 lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/pro\/royel-otis-guitarist-identify-sexual-misconduct-accusers\/\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/kennedy-center-donald-trump-dec-26-2025-billboard-1800.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"The Donald Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"auto\" height=\"\" width=\"\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content \">\n<p><span class=\"c-span  lrv-u-whitespace-nowrap\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"o_category \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-font-basic-fancy u-font-size-15 u-font-size-15.5@mobile-max u-line-height-22px u-padding-r-0.188@desktop u-word-spacing-0013 u-line-height-22.5px@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tKennedy Center President to &#8216;Seek $1 Million in Damages&#8217; From Jazz Musician Who Called Off Christmas Eve Show\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<p><time class=\"c-timestamp  \" datetime=\"00:00-YY-DD-MM\"><\/p>\n<p><\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card \">\n<p>\t\t\t<a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/business\/legal\/diddy-seeks-immediate-release-prison-appeals-1236145545\/\" class=\"lrv-u-color-black:hover lrv-u-flex u-flex-direction-column@desktop\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-margin-b-075 lrv-u-margin-b-00@mobile-max u-width-130px@mobile-max\">\n<div class=\"a-crop-6x4 a-crop-3x2@mobile-max\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/pro\/royel-otis-guitarist-identify-sexual-misconduct-accusers\/\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/diddy-2023-billboard-1800.jpg?w=237&amp;h=147&amp;crop=1\" alt=\"BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 26: Sean Combs is seen on October 26, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by MEGA\/GC Images)\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"auto\" height=\"\" width=\"\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-card__content \">\n<p><span class=\"c-span  lrv-u-whitespace-nowrap\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"o_category \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"c_title \">\n<h3 id=\"title-of-a-story\" class=\"c-title  a-font-basic-fancy u-font-size-15 u-font-size-15.5@mobile-max u-line-height-22px u-padding-r-0.188@desktop u-word-spacing-0013 u-line-height-22.5px@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-4line@mobile-max a-truncate-ellipsis-3line\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tDiddy Seeks Immediate Release From Prison in Appeals Argument\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n<p><time class=\"c-timestamp  \" datetime=\"00:00-YY-DD-MM\"><\/p>\n<p><\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cNo litigation to stop these statements has been filed anywhere in the world,\u201d wrote Judge Alsup. \u201cSo far as we know, Bressington never has put pen to paper to inform any government authority anywhere in the world about the matters that concern this application, until submitting it now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe judge also pointed out that while Maddell declares he has never been charged or convicted of sexual misconduct by any criminal authorities, he \u201chas not specifically rejected as false one of the most basic assertions alleged: that when not a minor he had sex with a minor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe ruling held that these factors ultimately weighed against ordering a subpoena against Reddit. Maddell\u2019s reps did not immediately return a request for comment on Monday (Jan. 5), nor did the social media platform.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMaddell makes up one half of Royel Otis alongside singer Otis Pavlovic. The indie-pop duo landed their first <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/chart-beat\/royel-otis-moody-number-1-adult-alternative-airplay-chart-1236015092\/\">Billboard <\/a><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/chart-beat\/royel-otis-moody-number-1-adult-alternative-airplay-chart-1236015092\/\">No. 1 chart entry<\/a> in May with \u201cMoody,\u201d though the song\u2019s hook, \u201cMy girl\u2019s a b\u2013h when she\u2019s moody,\u201d attracted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/music-news\/royel-otis-apology-allegations-misogynistic-lyrics-1235980740\/\">accusations of misogyny<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIt was in the wake of the controversy around \u201cMoody\u201d that users on Reddit began claiming that Maddell had an improper sexual relationship with a student years earlier. The claims caught fire, leading to the creation of an entire subreddit titled \u201cRoyel Otis Allegations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMaddell got lawyers involved, asking for Reddit\u2019s help in unmasking the users who started the scandal. But the social media company declined, citing free speech and privacy concerns. Maddell\u2019s attorneys then took Reddit to court in October, arguing that the company \u201ccontinues to allow these defamatory posts to remain on its platform and to spread beyond it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ubpass.co\/billboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><br \/>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/2HpFicp.png\" alt=\"Billboard VIP Pass\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto\"><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A judge has denied Royel Otis guitarist Royel Maddell\u2019s attempt to identify the anonymous Reddit users who accused him of grooming an underage student when he was a music teacher.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[387,274,275,449,444,94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business","category-genre-pop","category-genre-rock","category-legal","category-legal-news","category-music-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7834\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}