Marcus Mumford revealed that he suffered sexual abuse as a child. His distraught mother found out after hearing the lyrics of his solo song 30 years later.
The Mumford & Sons frontman, 35, said he spent his life in ‘layers of shame’ following the abuse aged six, which was the ‘first of a string of really unusual, unhealthy sexual experiences at a really early age.’
Speaking to GQ Magazine, he said: ‘Like lots of people – and I’m learning more and more about this as we go and as I play it to people – I was sexually abused as a child.
Song: Marcus Mumford has revealed he was sexually abused as a child – with his distraught mother Eleanor only finding out when she heard the lyrics to his solo track 30 years later (pictured with his parents Eleanor and John)
‘Not by family and not in the church, which might be some people’s assumption. But I hadn’t told anyone about it for 30 years.
John and Eleanor Marcus were both leaders within the Vineyard Churches, a neocharismatic Christian denomination.
He added: ‘And for some reason, and I can’t really understand why, I didn’t become a perpetrator of sexual abuse – although I’ve done my fair share of c**tish behaviour.’
Marcus, who shares two children with wife Carey Mulligan, detailed how he was at ‘rock bottom’ after finishing touring Mumford & Sons’ 2018 album Delta, with his loved ones recognising he was not acting right and urging him to seek help.
Couple: Marcus married Carey Mulligan, actress. The couple have two children.
He shared his childhood abuse stories with a specialist trauma counselor, and the experience caused him to vomit. After that, the memory was channeled into Cannibal.
The lyrics include: ‘I can still taste you and I hate it / That wasn’t a choice in the mind of a child and you knew it.’
He told his mom how he played Cannibal, and she came back to him the next day asking about what it was.
Eleanor was shocked when he revealed he had been abused, with Marcus reflecting on the trauma his mother must have experienced learning about the abuse via the ‘f***ing hilarious’ medium of song.
Torment: The Mumford & Sons frontman, 35, said he spent his life in ‘layers of shame’ following the abuse aged six, which was the ‘first of a string of really unusual, unhealthy sexual experiences at a really early age’ (pictured 2018)
Marcus was applauded for his courage and openness in speaking out about his sexual abuse after the interview.
An NSPCC spokesman said: “Speaking out about child sexual abuse is a truly brave thing to do and Marcus Mumford has shown a great deal of courage in sharing his experiences publically.
“By doing this, he highlights an important message that it is never to late to speak out about abuse regardless of how long ago it took place.
“Moving forward, we hope that he receives the support he needs and that others who have had similar experiences will feel less alone and empowered to speak out and seek help and support.”
Marcus played with Ben Lovett since 2007, and Ted Dwane joined the folk rock group. Ted Dwane confirmed that the group will be continuing as a trio, after Winston Marshall left in June 2021.
Devastating: Marcus said the abuse was ‘not by family and not in the church, which might be some people’s assumption. But I hadn’t told anyone about it for 30 years’ (pictured performing in 2019)
Family: Marcus’ parents John (and Eleanor) were leaders in the neocharismatic Christian denomination Vineyard Churches.
Winston said that he begged him to stay, and added that “I believe you can disagree with me” but it was too late.
The band’s last album – Delta – was released in 2018 and reached number two in the UK album charts and topped the US Billboard 200. In 2019, they released Blind Leading The Blind, their first single.
Winston left the group following a tirade from a “viral mob” for praising a right-wing journalist on social media.
Mumford & Sons shot to fame in 2009 with the release of debut album, Sigh No More, which peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200.
The Babel and Wilder Mind albums debuted at number 1 in the UK, and Wilder Mind became the best-selling album of rock.
Sigh No More received the Brit Award 2011 for Best British Album and six Grammy nominations.
Marshall’s departure last June saw the band rocked.
Marshall wrote a 1 263 word essay on Medium about how his “innocuous” endorsement of Andy Ngo’s book on the far-Left extremist group Antifa led to ‘tens, of thousands’ of angry comments and retweets.
He claimed he didn’t foresee his praises of Unmasked. Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan To Destroy Democracy could be taken to mean approval of the similarly abhorrent Far-Right and that it might cause his fellow musicians’more trouble.
Marshall was born in Wandsworth and raised there. He wrote that he would have liked to stay with the group, and “continue to self-censor”, but that it would ‘erode [his] sense of integrity.”
After calling Mr Ngo’s book “important” and calling the US journalist who was injured while reporting on street clashes, the folk musician to music was attacked via social media.
Recognized: Marcus has been playing in the folk-rock band with Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane since 2007. He confirmed that the trio will carry on after Winston Marshall, the banjoist, quit in June 2021.
After allegations that he had endorsed Fascism – which he called ‘ludicrous – Ted Dwane and Ted Mumford asked Ted Dwane to quit the band.
However, they posted an emotional message on Twitter in support of Win. It said, “We wish him all the luck for the future Win. And we love you.” M, B & T.’
The banjoist/guitarist announced that he would be leaving the band in March. This led one critic to cancel culture writing: “Never appease hate mobs, you should not have stood by what you said.”
Call the Samaritans UK at 116123 for confidential assistance. Visit a branch of Samaritans or click here to find out more.
NAPAC offers confidential assistance to adults who have suffered abuse from their childhood. Call 0808 801 0331 for free, mobiles and landlines. Click here for more details.
Goodbye: The band were rocked last June with the departure of Marshall (pictured 2019)