PUBLIC WARNING MADE "HOMELESS" & LEFT FIGHTING FOR BAND NAME IN "NASTY" LAWSUITTHE POPULAR BOYBAND COULD LOSE EVERYTHING AS A LEGAL BATTLE WITH MANAGEMENT RAMPS UP
[Above: Public Warning during happier days. Clockwise from bottom left; Beau Elliot, Zander Lyons, Myles Dempsey, Jake Denton & Carter Lee Alafouzos]Chart topping independent British-Irish boyband Public Warning aren't entering 2023 on the happiest note as Culture Uncut can exclusively reveal that the five-piece are currently embroiled in a lawsuit against manager Bruce Henshaw over the rights to their band name, release of future music, the termination of their management contract and alleged financial embezzlement. Despite several hits under their belt, all five members have also technically been made homeless as a result of the dispute as the group rented a London apartment owned by manager Henshaw. It is believed that the band have dispersed across the UK and Ireland to find temporary accommodation with family and friends as of the time of writing. Beau Elliot, Carter Lee Alafouzos, Myles Dempsey, Jake Denton and Zander Lyons are set to face a hearing in an attempt to remove themselves from Henshaw's management company; "Primal Creative". The heated feud has allegedly been brewing for the best part of two years, with the band claiming "mental, emotional, financial and physical abuse" from their manager.
Formed in 2016 by Lyrica Ocha, ex-G2L member and creator of Weekend, Public Warning spent several years in development under Ocha's wing. The five-piece
[which originally included Declan Harding in the place of Jake Denton] spent their first year living in accommodation provided by Lyrica in order to "form close bonds" while developing and refining their writing skills, sound and vocal blend. In late 2017, the band signed a management deal with Henshaw and Primal Creative, moving into and renting a London apartment owned by Bruce. As a young, independent group, many members took on part time jobs in order to supply the rent money with further funding coming from their music when they officially debuted in 2019. Public Warning premiered to instant success and acclaim under Henshaw's management. The group amassed four consecutive #1 singles, a further Top 5 track, and a #1 album in the form of their lauded debut,
"A Moveable Feast". Despite the accolades, the band claim that they "never saw" much of the earnings and that the "little money" they did receive went straight towards Henshaw's rent and other bills. The members protest that they feel "trapped", unable to finance suitable housing of their own. In their lawsuit, the group accused management of "embezzling" music royalties and claim that their success and the numbers "don't add up".
On top of alleged financial manipulation, Public Warning have accused Bruce of "unacceptable", "unprofessional" and "intimidating" behaviour over the years. Leaked court documents state that Henshaw frequently "berated", "threatened" and "yelled" at the group over the years, often unprovoked but especially when challenged or questioned by a band member. The statement then goes on to say that Henshaw allegedly would "grab" and "shove" the boys, threatening to "do worse". It has also been claimed that Bruce would often criticise their appearances; insulting their looks and obsessing over their weight. Youngest member Myles Dempsey spoke out about his eating disorder in 2020. Our Culture Uncut article with the singer was also cited in the documents as a catalyst for one of Henshaw's apparent outbursts with the mogul supposedly "angered" by Dempsey's candidness and how it may have "ruined" the group's "easy going image".
Former member Declan Harding, who was infamously fired via email just one day after their album topped the charts, spoke out against Bruce and the band's living situation shortly after his dismissal. In his tweets, Harding called the living conditions "horrendous", stating that all five members were forced to "pile up" in a "tiny, two bedroom box of a flat". He then went on to lambast the "toxic" controlling nature of Henshaw as well as the "divide and conquer tactics" he believes the manager implemented. The ex-Public Warning star stated that Bruce favoured lead singer Beau Elliot and made his feelings "loud and clear" to the rest of the band. Harding also maintains that Henshaw has "complete control and access" to all of their social media accounts. Declan's official verified Twitter account was shortly terminated after these tweets.
[Above: Bruce Henshaw poses with a "faceless" Public Warning in a promotional picture used on Primal Creative's official website] Possibly the biggest legal battle the group are facing is the usage and rights of the Public Warning name. It is protested that secondary lead singer Carter Lee Alafouzos coined the band's name in 2017 prior to signing any sort of management deal, however, he and fellow members agreed to allow Henshaw to trademark the name the following year as they geared up to release music and merchandise. The group cite their "naivety", "young age" and "inexperience with the industry" as the reasoning behind their willingness to hand over their name. In the filing, they also go on to claim that they were "hoodwinked" by Henshaw and that they once believed that he "had their best interests at heart". Alafouzos, Dempsey, Denton, Elliot and Lyons state that their manager is "refusing" to let them go from their contract and no longer permitted the commercial usage of the Public Warning name, effectively "blocking" any future music releases. The band haven't released any material since the spring of 2020.
The accusation of Bruce meddling with their musical output doesn't stop there. It has been claimed that the music manager would purposely turn away record labels who were actively trying to sign the band. Public Warning have been an independent entity since their inception in 2016 despite mainstream success. In the court documents, several group members allege that they only discovered that multiple record labels were once interested in signing them through word of mouth at showbiz events, years down the line. Beau Elliot has gone on record, claiming that he believes Bruce had "self serving" and "spiteful" intentions behind keeping the group unsigned. The Public Warning frontman branded Henshaw as "money hungry" and that being signed to a major label would mean "splitting income", "legality" and "powerful people getting involved", elements which he alleges that Bruce "would not like at all".
A source close to the band tells us that lead singer Beau finds the lawsuit "distressing" but that it pales in comparison to his "harrowing" experience as part of the group. They state that Bruce viewed Beau as the "golden child" but only ever showed affection whenever a success came their way and that it was a "different story" when things went awry. Our source claims that Beau has been under "immense pressure" for many years now, "pushing himself to the limit" in order to appease Henshaw and avoid his "hideous wrath".
Despite all the drama and obstacles in the way, Public Warning intend to continue as a group and release new music once the case comes to a head. Insiders state that the band are eager to find a new home, new team and showcase what this second line-up of the group can do. While Jake Denton officially joined the group in 2020, things soon reached a stalemate behind the scenes and the band have yet to release any material with him in the line-up. It has also been said that the band is sitting on a "big song" which features a famous American music star that they're "itching" to release. However, all material recorded over the last two years remains vaulted until the courts reach a decision.
Neither Public Warning, Bruce Henshaw nor any legal representatives have reached out to us for comment thus far.
