WILMINGTON — A musician famous for a brand built on positive, uplifting vibes — and a commitment to social justice and humanitarian causes — has canceled his tour with his band Spearhead after sexual abuse and grooming allegations surfaced. This includes September dates in Wilmington.
Michael Franti made the announcement Wednesday on his Instagram story:
“Recent events online have left me disheartened and my spirit isn’t in the place it needs to be to get on stage and give you the joy and energy you deserve,” he said. “The remaining dates on the Welcome to the Family Tour will be canceled. I’m devastated to disappoint you, but I hope you understand that I need this to pause to be with my family.”
The cancelation was prompted when a former touring musician came forth last week on social media claiming inappropriate behaviors Franti exhibited toward her. It included the musician touching her and taking her picture without permission. Franti denies as much.
“This is something I’ve never spoken about publicly and have been holding for 8 years now — it has plagued my body, spirit and mind, in subliminal and overt ways, for my entire 20s,” musician Victoria Canal wrote on her 27th birthday.
She said after being assaulted in a studio earlier this year, her “subconscious awoke,” which is why she is sharing her story.
Though Canal never named Franti, she called the man at the center of her account “loving, charismatic and principled.”
“However, behind closed doors, this person has a history of incredibly damaging behavior across the board and has a team of enablers around him who have fiercely protected his image, perpetuating this behavior for decades,” she wrote.
Canal went on to describe how the two became friends and spent a lot of time together on tour, which included taking long walks. Their conversations turned sexual, she described.
“He would invite me into his hotel room to ‘record vocals,’ telling me how much he believed in me, only to then insist that I lie down with him,” Canal wrote. “He would take my body into his and rock back and forth, and to my quiet ‘not sure this is a good idea,’ he would say ‘it’s fine as long as you don’t tell anyone.’”
In 2018, Franti discovered Canal on Instagram when she was 19 years old and asked her to join his “Follow Your Heart” tour. He also invited her to Nashville to write “The Flower,” which they played together and also recorded a video for; the track appeared on Michael Franti and Spearhead’s “Stay Human Vol. II.”
In a social media post on Sunday, Aug. 17, Franti admitted to having a relationship with a touring musician while he was still married. He also never named Canal but maintained it was consensual and “based on mutual feelings and attraction.”
“I vehemently dispute any version of the story that says otherwise,” he wrote. “I will, however, take full accountability for not better recognizing the power imbalance as she was younger than me, and I was the headliner on tour.”
The situation has spurred a bevy of aftereffects including Franti’s annual Soulshine at Sea cruise to be canceled after Dispatch, Maggie Rose, Hirie and Liz Vice dropped from the show. Tank and the Bangas also pulled support from Michael Franti and Spearhead’s tour.
Since the fallout, Canal has responded as well to Franti’s take on the situation. In his post, he noted he was “deeply sorry” to his wife, Sara — whom he married in 2015 — and said they continue to work through his infidelity. He also apologized to Canal “for the pain you are going through.”
“My mistake was breaking the vows of our marriage and involving someone else in the breaking of those vows,” he continued.
Canal wrote in response: “I am used to gaslighting from this person. People are gonna believe what they believe — I’m the one that has to live with effects of what really happened in my body, and I am the one responsible for my own healing.”
During her stint on Franti’s tour, Canal said his team knew about the behavior but didn’t address it. Franti parted with Activist Artist Management earlier this week, according to Billboard.
After Canal’s post, multiple women came forward with similar stories, some of which she has shared on socials as well. One email signed Carla Swanson, who co-founded Soulshine Bali yoga and wellness resort with Franti in 2011, noted:
“I read your post and I’m so sorry this happened to you. I wish I could share my full story too — but this same person forced me to sign an NDA. Twice.”
Another anonymous message from a woman the same age as Canal said she experienced inappropriate behavior from Franti when she was 19.
“He started giving me a lot of extra attention, and I did pick up on a sexual vibe from him” she wrote. “But I just totally dismissed it because I couldn’t really believe he would be like that toward me.”
A writer on Substack, Minda Lane, also published an account of Franti’s “abuse of power,” noting she met him at a radio event in 2008 before enduring a “hot-and-cold” relationship with him through 2017. During this time, Lane wrote she witnessed overly sexualized and disturbing behaviors, as well as Franti using homophobic slurs and attending a family-friendly festival with his penis visible due to a hole in the crotch of his pants. Lane said she supported Canal in speaking out and related to her experiences.
Canal said she has gone to therapy over the incident and also wrote the song “Body Behave” about it. She claims she “had no agenda” in sharing her story but merely hoped it would be an eye-opener to other women entering the music industry.
Franti’s Wilmington dates were scheduled for Sept. 11 and 12. The musician has been known to do multiple shows in town, which have gained fanfare for being family-friendly, often with kids being brought onstage to perform with the musician. His connection to fans also have become well-known, with the yogi often hosting yoga sessions with followers before a show.
Franti also has supported nonprofits including WhyHunger, Everytown/Mom’s Demand Action, The Last Prisoner Project, and his own organization, Do It for the Love. The latter helps wounded veterans or those with life-threatening illnesses attend live concerts.
Michael Franti and Spearhead were originally set to play Live Oak Bank Pavilion but ended up moving to Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. Live Nation has listed both dates as canceled.
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