The National's Aaron Dessner Replies After Being Accused Of Starting A Riot

On Sunday, (May 31), The National's Aaron Dessner took to Instagram to reply after bizarrely being accused of being an “Antifa organizer caught on camera appearing to pay some kids to riot” in Ohio.

Dessner was, in fact, in the rural countryside with his wife and children and was not at a protest. He shared a photo of grass, trees, and mountains with a note to fans. 

“I've been here for three months now isolating with my wife and young children. This morning I've woken up to the unpleasant and surprising news that I've been misidentified by some social media users as someone seen encouraging rioting in Columbus, Ohio,” he wrote. “I am not the person some are suggesting I am. Nor have I been in Ohio since June 2019.”

The video in question, shows a young man with a beard, long hair, and a beanie, seeming to pay off another young man on a bike to start causing a disturbance among peaceful protesters. Another Twitter user with absolutely no proof whatsoever claimed it was The National guitarist and it took off.

One of Dessner's friends even replied to the Twitter thread saying it's not him: “He wasn’t there. Please delete this tweet. I’ve known him for 15 years & this isn’t him. Also if you’re in any doubt you only need to look at his twitter feed to see that he’s not the kind of guy who would do this. In any event, you have the wrong guy so please delete your tweet.”

Dessner ended his note to fans saying that although he wasn't in attendance at any protest, he does “support peaceful protests and activism against endemic racism and racially motivated violence in this country.”

Photo: Getty Images