Parkway Drive continues to face public scrutiny, with the band’s bassist Jia O’Connor being the latest to come under fire after Australia’s ABC News conducted a deeper investigation into the predatory behavior that existed in the early 2000s Byron Bay scene.

The band’s now former but longtime merch manager Jed Gordon was recently convicted and sentenced for sexual offenses involving an underage girl. At the time of his guilty plea, Parkway Drive’s singer Winston McCall issued a lengthy and emotional video apology siding with the victim in the case and calling for those in their scene to improve their treatment of women.

However, the conclusion of the case wasn’t the end of the story, as Australia’s ABC News published a more extensive investigative report in which several more women spoke out against Gordon and his predatory behavior, sharing other instances they encountered in their youth from others in the scene.

Additionally, as part of the reporting, there was mention of Parkway Drive bassist Jia O’Connor’s early foray into rap music, where the misogynistic lyrics become even more problematic given the climate in which they were created.

Key Insights on Jia O’Connor’s Rap Songs and His Apology

The ABC News report revealed that O’Connor produced some rap songs recorded before he joined Parkway Drive. In these songs, the rappers made extremely critical comments about teen girls and even suggested committing rape.

One song referenced “breaking the hymen” of a 12-year-old. In that same song, as reported by ABC News, another rapper remarked about a peer, “He’s probably tried to rape you or one of your friends.”

In a statement issued to ABC News as part of the report, O’Connor expressed deep shame regarding “some of the songs,” which he stated were written and performed by “insecure teenagers” attempting to mimic “the hateful lyrics of Eminem and NWA without understanding the consequences.”

He also mentioned that many of these songs were never intended for publication, but “some of the worst songs leaked and ended up hurting people.”

O’Connor concluded, “While it was a toxic culture for boys, it was significantly worse for girls, and I am deeply sorry for contributing to that.”

What Did Parkway Drive’s Winston McCall Previously Say?

Back in March, when Parkway Drive’s Winston McCall initially delivered an emotional apology after learning of Jed Gordon’s guilty plea for a sexual offense against an underage girl, he spent considerable time discussing the climate in which the band emerged and challenging their scene to improve.

“To the women, you deserve to be safe. You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be seen and respected,” said McCall. “Every person watching this now knows a sexual assault survivor. You might not know it, but you do. Every woman in your life has been sexually harassed. It’s unacceptable. If it’s heartbreaking, it should be heartbreaking. This is a societal issue with culture, and we need to change it.”

“We as men need to do better. We need to stand up and be better. I’m not saying all men are bad; I’m not trying to paint everyone with the same brush. I’m just trying to say this is a community, and communities must look inward during these moments and take responsibility; that’s how things improve. We’ve got to take account,” continued McCall.

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“To the women in this scene, you are so valued and important. You’re so welcome and essential. To the men in this scene, don’t tolerate nonsense. I know it can be difficult to speak up. I find it hard too, even with a microphone in front of everyone. But we’ve got to do it. You’ve got to look at your mates, friends, and peers and ask the hard questions. You’ve got to speak out; that’s how change happens,” he added.

“This music has always meant more than just sound to me. It’s about community. Communities are responsible for taking accountability. So this is it; this is what this band stands for: community. It always has and always will,” McCall concluded.

In their statement to ABC News, contributing to their report, the group referenced high unemployment rates in Byron Bay along with issues related to alcohol, drugs, and violence that likely contributed to the climate at that time.

“Behaviors like power imbalances, consent issues, bullying were prevalent: in homes and on the streets; girls and women bore the brunt of it,” stated the band. “It’s heartbreaking and unacceptable.”

What Happened in Jed Gordon’s Case?

On May 28, Jed Gordon, brother of Parkway Drive drummer Ben Gordon, was sentenced in a Byron Bay court as the band’s former merch manager. His sentence included 300 hours of community service as part of a three-year community corrections order. Additionally, Gordon’s name now appears on the child protection register along with receiving a “two-year apprehended domestic violence order.”

However, he avoided jail time. Gordon claimed he is a “different person now” after having “entered criminality without proper thought” while repeatedly initiating sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old during his early 20s. He reportedly lost two jobs due to this court case according to his lawyer John Waller.

In his ruling, Judge Geoffrey Dunlevy determined that Gordon showed “significant insight” into his remorsefulness, which influenced his sentencing decision. The judge also noted that he assessed the case according to modern community standards regarding child sexual abuse rather than through perspectives from the early 2000s.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, resources are available for help. Visit the RAINN website (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) or call 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).

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