The Neighbourhood Rehires Drummer After Groping Scandal: A Masterclass in Selective Memory

Jaden Patel here. Another day, another band deciding that personal growth apparently means welcoming back the guy who got fired for groping someone. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the sheer audacity on display here.

The Neighbourhood, best known for their hit “Sweater Weather” and now apparently for their questionable personnel decisions, has announced their comeback with original drummer Brandon Fried. This comes three years after he was booted from the band following allegations that he groped The Marías frontwoman María Zardoya at a bar in 2022. The announcement was made via a since-deleted Instagram Story on Friday, August 29, because nothing says “we stand by our decisions” like immediately hiding the evidence.

According to Rolling Stone, the band’s statement addressed the allegations with the kind of corporate PR speak that would make a used car salesman blush. They acknowledged that in November 2022, “it became evident that Brandon’s struggles with substance abuse needed immediate attention, and we agreed it was best for him to step away and focus on his recovery.” How thoughtful of them to frame getting fired for sexual misconduct as a mutual decision about wellness.

The band expressed gratitude for “those who spoke up” about Fried’s issues, stating that their courage helped get their friend “the support he needed.” Because apparently the real heroes here are the people who helped the groper get therapy, not the woman who was actually groped. The statement continued with the kind of sentiment usually reserved for high school yearbooks: “Being in each other’s lives for over 20 years, when one of us is going through something, it impacts all of us.” How touching. I’m sure María Zardoya feels exactly the same way about how Fried’s actions impacted her.

Let’s rewind to November 2022, when Zardoya actually had the nerve to speak up about her experience. She posted on her band’s Instagram account: “I was at a bar last night, and I was groped under the table by Brandon Fried, the drummer of the Neighbourhood. It was one of the most uncomfortable things I’ve ever experienced. I felt an invasion of my space, privacy and body.” She then offered some free career advice to the band: “Ya’ll need a new drummer, this guy is a complete creep.”

To their credit, the band responded quickly at the time. Within hours, they announced Fried’s departure, stating: “We are grateful to María for coming forward. We have zero tolerance for any kind of inappropriate behavior towards women. As a result of Brandon’s actions, he will no longer be a member of the Neighbourhood.” Notice how “zero tolerance” apparently has a three-year expiration date.

Fried himself issued an apology on his personal Instagram account, saying: “I am so terribly sorry to María. My actions were inexcusable and intolerable. They are not reflective of who I am as a person, but clearly a reflection of who I become while under the influence.” He continued: “It is evident that I must address my problems with alcohol and substance abuse, which I am now seeking help for.” So the classic “alcohol made me do it” defense. Because nothing says personal accountability like blaming the bottle.

Now fast forward to their recent Instagram post, where the band revealed all five members “reunited in the studio” in November 2024. They concluded their comeback announcement with: “Thank you to everyone who kept the music alive while we were away. We couldn’t feel more honored to do what we do and can’t wait to share this next chapter with you.” The chapter apparently titled: “How to Rebrand Sexual Misconduct as a Healing Journey.”

The Marías’ representative was not immediately available for comment, which is probably for the best. I can’t imagine what they would possibly have to say about this development that would be suitable for publication.

It’s fascinating to watch how these situations unfold in the music industry. A band member engages in objectively terrible behavior, gets rightfully fired, goes through some form of rehabilitation, and then everyone just pretends the whole unpleasantness never happened. It’s the celebrity equivalent of “we don’t talk about Bruno,” except instead of a magical uncle who predicts the future, it’s a drummer who can’t keep his hands to himself.

The Neighbourhood’s statement makes sure to emphasize how proud they are of Brandon and “the changes he has made and the progress he continues to make in his life.” That’s wonderful. Personal growth is always commendable. But perhaps there’s a middle ground between eternal punishment and complete reinstatement that doesn’t involve telling the victim that her assailant’s journey is more important than her experience.

This isn’t to say that people can’t change or that rehabilitation isn’t possible. But there’s something particularly galling about the way these situations get framed as heartwarming stories of redemption, with the actual victim becoming a footnote in someone else’s growth narrative. The band’s statement thanks people for speaking up because it helped their friend get help, not because it stood up for what’s right or protected potential future victims.

The music industry has never been particularly good at handling these situations with nuance or actual accountability. The pattern is familiar: scandal, brief exile, vague references to personal growth, and then business as usual. It’s the same playbook we’ve seen time and again, just with different players.

What’s particularly interesting about this case is the timing. Three years isn’t exactly a lifetime of reflection and atonement. It’s roughly the amount of time it takes to get an undergraduate degree, or for a toddler to learn basic manners. Apparently it’s also enough time for a groping scandal to become a comeback story.

The band’s statement about their hiatus is also worth noting: “In November 2021, after 10 years together, The Neighbourhood went on an indefinite hiatus. As we entered our early 30s, we were faced with life outside of the band for the first time in our adult lives. Breakups, family struggles, and personal challenges.” They make it sound like they all decided to take some personal time for self-discovery, rather than having their drummer fired for sexual misconduct.

It’s all part of the careful rebranding exercise – transforming a story about accountability into one about personal growth and band brotherhood. The narrative shifts from “our drummer assaulted someone” to “we’ve all been on a journey of self-discovery and healing.” It’s quite the rhetorical magic trick.

So there you have it. The Neighbourhood is back together, complete with their original drummer. Because in the end, great music is apparently more important than basic decency. Or as they might put it: the show must go on, even if someone might have gotten felt up backstage.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and Rolling Stone