In his new memoir “Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell,” Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley alleges that he was groomed and sexually abused by the band’s former manager, Greig Nori, when he was a teenager and Nori was in his 30s. Whibley claims that Nori kissed him without consent and initiated sexual encounters during the band’s early years in Ajax, Ont., and into the early 2000s. Despite this abuse, Whibley never told his bandmates about the situation, only confiding in then-partner Avril Lavigne and his current wife, Ariana Cooper, who helped him understand the abusive nature of his relationship with Nori.
In “Walking Disaster,” Whibley recounts how he first met Nori when he was 16 and snuck backstage at a Treble Charger concert. Nori, who was the frontman of Treble Charger and Whibley’s hero, eventually became the band’s manager after Whibley invited him to one of Sum 41’s performances. One night when Whibley was 18, he and Nori were at a rave when Nori asked him to do ecstasy in the bathroom. In the bathroom stall, Nori allegedly kissed Whibley and expressed that he believed they shared a special connection.
Despite feeling pressured and uncomfortable, Whibley tried to end the sexual aspect of his relationship with Nori multiple times, only to be accused of homophobia by the older musician. It wasn’t until 2004 when Whibley started dating Lavigne that he disclosed what had happened between him and Nori. Lavigne reacted by calling it abuse, and Whibley eventually left Nori as the band’s manager in 2005 after a mutual friend recognized the abusive nature of the relationship.
As Whibley grew older and reflected on his past experiences with Nori, he began to realize the power imbalance in their relationship. After learning about the MeToo movement, Whibley came to understand that he had been groomed by Nori. Despite potential legal consequences, Whibley is not worried and believes that telling the truth cannot result in a lawsuit. Sum 41 is currently touring their last round of shows, with their final stop scheduled at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena in 2025.
Nori, who denies the allegations in Whibley’s book, has hired a defamation lawyer to challenge the claims of sexual abuse. Although Nori disputes the accusations, Whibley stands by his account and is willing to go to court under oath to defend his claims. With the support of his current wife, Ariana Cooper, and the courage to speak out openly about his experiences, Whibley hopes to bring attention to the issue of grooming and abuse in the music industry. Despite the difficult and painful memories recounted in his memoir, Whibley is determined to share his story in the hopes of creating a safer environment for young musicians and preventing future instances of abuse and manipulation.
