Arcade Fire duo announce end of their 22-year marriage
In a social media statement, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne – the husband-and-wife duo behind the Grammy-winning band Arcade Fire – have announced the end of their 22-year marriage.
Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, the husband-and-wife duo behind the Grammy-winning band Arcade Fire, have announced the end of their 22-year marriage.
Win, 45, and Régine, 49, who co-founded the Canadian indie rock group in the early 2000s, shared the news in a joint statement posted on the band’s official Instagram page.
Their message said: “After a long and loving marriage, Win and Régine have decided to separate.
“They continue to love, admire and support each other as they co-parent their son.”
The statement also addressed the future of their band, confirming their creative partnership will continue despite the split. It added: “Their work in Haiti with KANPE continues and their bond as creative soulmates will endure, as will Arcade Fire. “The band send their love and look forward to seeing you all on tour soon.”
Comments on the Instagram post were disabled.
Win and Régine married in 2003 and had one son, born in 2013.
Their separation follows a turbulent period for the band’s frontman, who was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women in 2022.
The allegations were published by Pitchfork in August 2022, with four women – aged between 18 and 23 at the time of their interactions with Win – coming forward under pseudonyms.
According to Pitchfork, their accounts were corroborated through interviews with relatives and reviews of text and social media exchanges.
At the time, Win acknowledged having extramarital affairs but denied the accusations of misconduct.
He said: “While these relationships were all consensual, I am very sorry to anyone who I have hurt with my behavior. As I look to the future, I am continuing to learn from my mistakes and working hard to become a better person, someone my son can be proud of.”
He continued: “I'm sorry I wasn't more aware and tuned in to the effect I have on people – I f****d up, and while not an excuse, I will continue to look forward and heal what can be healed, and learn from past experiences.”
In a statement to Pitchfork, Win attributed his behavior to a period of depression and heavy drinking following Régine’s miscarriage.
He said: “She waited patiently watching me suffer and tried to help me as best as she could.
“I know it must have been so hard for her to watch the person she loved so lost.”
Régine issued her own statement in support of her husband, saying she stood by him despite the controversy.
She said: “I know he is a good man who cares about this world, our band, his fans, friends, and our family. I know what is in his heart, and I know he has never, and would never, touch a woman without her consent and I am certain he never did.
“He has lost his way and he has found his way back. I love him and love the life we have created together.”
Arcade Fire continues to perform with its core members – Win, Régine, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara.
Their latest album, Pink Elephant, was released in May.
The band is best known for its 2011 record The Suburbs, which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
