Riff Raff’s Tour Canceled After Rape Allegation Surfaces

Eliza Stafford detailed the alleged drugging and subsequent rape in a Facebook post on Thursday, resulting in the cancellation of Australian and New Zealand tour dates.

An Australian woman has accused Riff Raff in a Facebook post of drugging and raping her in 2013, to which promoters of the rapper’s upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand swiftly responded by canceling his dates.

Melbourne’s Eliza Stafford claims Riff Raff, legally known as Horst Christian Simco, put a syrupy substance in her shot that left her blacked out—only to awaken with the rapper finishing his deed and heading to the bathroom. Stafford was 19 years old at the time.

“In 2013 I was raped by a man whose stage name is Riff Raff,” Stafford wrote in her Facebook post. “I was offered a 60ml ‘party’ shot. I took the shot, it was syrup and I immediately asked what it was. Riff Raff and his support act told me that it was codeine and started laughing. I don’t remember anything from that point. I woke up as Riff Raff was pulling out of me and getting into the shower.” 

Stafford, like many rape victims, reserved her right to privacy about the alleged incident for years—until she realized Riff Raff was scheduled to return to Australia this year. “I was raped and blamed myself for five years,” she wrote. “I got a notification today because I work at in [sic] Richmond, and he is performing at the corner hotel next Friday night. I will be 50 meters from my rapist all night.”

When tour promoter Audiopaxx learned of the horrific allegation, they immediately refused to work on his Australian and New Zealand tour.

“We have been made aware of allegations made against Houston rapper Riff Raff,” the promoter wrote in a statement. “Audiopaxx take these matters seriously and does not condone any of this alleged behavior. In light of this, we have spoken to his management team and the scheduled tour of Australia and New Zealand has been cancelled, effective immediately.”

Riff Raff has not yet responded to these allegations. 

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