SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL organizers have confirmed that one of the event’s directors has stepped down from active duties following serious allegations that surfaced earlier this week.
Although the official statement does not name the individual, multiple reports point to festival founder Ben Ray after a woman publicly accused him of sexual assault on April 23 through Instagram and other social media platforms. The allegations were reportedly accompanied by screenshots of an alleged conversation between the two parties.
In response, SLAM DUNK issued a formal statement confirming that the unnamed director denies the accusations but has agreed to temporarily step away while the matter moves through legal channels.
“Company statement. We are aware of allegations published yesterday relating to one of our directors. We take these allegations seriously and understand that they may be distressing and hard to process for our community.
Our Slam Dunk fans, staff, and artists are, as always, our top priority. While he strongly refutes these allegations, the director in question has agreed, in consultation with the board, to step down from Slam Dunk operations while this matter is ongoing.
Slam Dunk remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers. Our values and culture are fundamental to how we operate, and we are committed to upholding them.
It would be inappropriate for us to comment further on an ongoing legal matter. However, we promise transparency and honesty to our Slam Dunk community and will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so.”
The controversy arrives only weeks before the 2026 edition of SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL, scheduled to take place across the UK in late May.
This year’s lineup includes GOOD CHARLOTTE, KNOCKED LOOSE, SUBLIME, and many more, meaning the situation lands at a crucial moment for one of the UK’s biggest alternative music events.
At the time of writing, no further official comment has been issued beyond the festival’s statement.
