Chad “Attak” Smith of IGNYTE EVENTS was arrested on domestic violence charges. His girlfriend, Heather Nemat, then alleged that he brutally beat her.
A number of artists and brands are distancing themselves from Detroit-based IGNYTE EVENTS Owner Chad Smith, who DJs under the name Attak, after he was arrested on domestic violence charges over allegedly beating his girlfriend, Heather Nemat.
Oakland County Jail records show that Smith was detained on Sunday, July 28 and released the following day. Then, on Tuesday, Nemat made a Facebook post alleging that “the rumors are true” and her “face and body will take a while to heal.” In a comment on the post, she went on to write, “and in regards to his statement of ‘restraining me’… why did he have to smash my face in to the ground multiple times until my teeth were broken?“
Not long after Nemat made her post, IGNYTE EVENTS issued a statement. “As a precaution and out of respect for all DV investigations, regardless of circumstance, Chad is voluntarily stepping down from the team while the situation is resolved and the investigation is pending,” it read.
That didn’t stop Eptic from canceling a show on which he had partnered with IGNYTE mere hours before the allegations came out. “Just been made aware of IGNYTE event owners actions and i’ve gotta pull off,” the Belgian DJ and producer shared on X. “I don’t want to work with/support abusers simple as that.”
Ray Volpe also pulled out of an IGNYTE show that was announced earlier in the day. “it’s absolutely fucking disgusting & inhumane,” he said on X. “i will not be playing that show any longer.”
SVDDEN DEATH followed suit soon after. In a reply to Eptic’s post, he wrote, “fyi we are pulling this promoter on my tour as well, working on a new plan in detroit.”
Venues The Crofoot and The Intersection, for which Smith worked as a talent buyer, also shared statements indicating that they had cut ties with him.
Nemat’s friend, Corina Bickel, has launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs associated with her recovery from the alleged incident. Donations can be made via GoFundMe.
