Photo: Tibrina Hobson/Getty
Travis Barkeris speaking out after his underage daughter received direct messages from an adult member of the pop-rock band Echosmith.
Earlier this week, Barker’s 13-year-olddaughter Alabama(withex Shanna Moakler) sharedsince-deleted screenshots of Instagram direct messagesshe allegedly received from Graham Sierota, the 20-year-old Echosmith drummer.
The Blast published the alleged screenshots on Thursday. The earliest messages — including “By the way I’m Graham from echosmith and I think ur beautiful” — date back to 2016, when Alabama was 10 years old. Then, a few weeks ago on July 12, Sierota appeared to invite Alabama to a barbecue. Alabama, an aspiring musician, responded, “Ur like 40.” Sierota replied: “I just wanted to say i really like ur music and sorry for messaging and I’m 20.” Alabama counter: “Ok but u understand I’m a child?”
Graham Sierota of Echosmith.John Sciulli/Getty
When Alabama shared the screenshots, she tagged Echosmith and wrote: “Hey guys! So once again I am bringing this to your attention because I’m a 13 year old girl and he is 21/20 super creepy.”
On Thursday, Barker responded to the messages in a statement to The Blast.
“I had invited Alabama to my parents’ big family BBQ along with many other people, and it wasn’t until she responded that I realized her age at which point I apologized to her,” Sierota says. “I’m really sorry and feel very badly about this. I didn’t realize she was a minor and assumed she was my age. I made a careless mistake and this is a big lesson for me. I would like to apologize again to Alabama, her dad Travis, and her family.”
Early Friday morning, Alabama posted to her Instagram story to weigh in on the drama — and to accept Sierota’s apology.
Alabama Barker’s Instagram.Alabama Barker/Instagram
“Hey guys! I am posting on behalf of the drummer of Echosmith! He had dmed me a while back in 2016 and then once again in July saying I was beautiful and invited me to a bbq at his house. He is very sorry about the situation and regretful,” Alabama wrote in a new Instagram story. “I forgive him and would like for this all to be over.”
Echosmith — Sierota’s band with brother Noah, 23, and sister Sydney, 22 — is best known for the act’s 2013 hit “Cool Kids.”
source: people.com
