Sum 41 lead singer Deryck Whibley says heB次元官网网址檚 prepared to battle in Ontario court with his former manager over their sexual relationship, which he alleges took advantage of him as a rising young musician.

The allegations against Greig Nori surfaced last fall in WhibleyB次元官网网址檚 memoir where he wrote that his one-time manager pressured him into a relationship.

Nori, frontman of 1990s rock band Treble Charger, calls WhibleyB次元官网网址檚 claims B次元官网网址渁 lie,B次元官网网址� saying their relationship was consensual, shared between two adults, and that Whibley pursued him.

None of the accusations have been tested in court.

Earlier this month, both sides filed notices with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice intending to sue.

First, Nori filed alleging damages from Whibley and his publishers for libel, while Whibley retorted with his own notice, alleging damage to his reputation for being called a B次元官网网址渓iar.B次元官网网址� The notices moved them a step closer to having their dispute heard by a judge.

Nori did not respond to a request for comment made by email and phone to his lawyers.

In an interview ahead of Sum 41B次元官网网址檚 final string of shows, Whibley said heB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址済ot nothing to hide at this pointB次元官网网址� and stands by what he said in the book.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 willing to go down any road, especially when I have the truth on my side,B次元官网网址� he said Sunday in call from Winnipeg where his band has a tour stop.

The pop-punk musician first outlined the allegations in B次元官网网址淲alking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell,B次元官网网址� published in October by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, sparking an immediate denial from Nori who said he was blindsided by the accusations shortly before the memoir hit shelves.

According to the book, Nori befriended Whibley after he snuck into a Treble Charger show, later becoming a mentor and ultimately Sum 41B次元官网网址檚 manager early in their career.

When Whibley turned 18, he says their platonic friendship turned sexual when Nori, in his mid-30s at the time, kissed him in a bathroom stall at a warehouse party while they were high on ecstasy.

He wrote that a power imbalance intensified as Sum 41 saw commercial success with Nori as their manager. Whibley alleged that when he attempted to end their sexual ties, Nori became verbally abusive.

Nori wrote in a statement at the time of the bookB次元官网网址檚 release that B次元官网网址渢he accusation that I pressured Whibley to continue the relationship is false.B次元官网网址�

On Jan. 3, Nori filed a notice of action in Toronto seeking damages from Whibley and Simon & Schuster LLC for libel as well as B次元官网网址渄amages for breach of confidence, intrusion upon seclusion, wrongful disclosure of private facts, and placing the plaintiff in a false light.B次元官网网址�

Whibley responded on Jan. 7, filing a notice of action against Nori seeking B次元官网网址済eneral damagesB次元官网网址� that he says he sustained because Nori publicly accused him of B次元官网网址渂eing a liar,B次元官网网址� and made allegations and statements that were B次元官网网址渇alse and/or inaccurate and would tend to lower the reputation of the plaintiff.B次元官网网址�

Sum 41 was founded in Ajax, Ont. and rose to popularity in the early 2000s with hits that included B次元官网网址淚n Too Deep,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淢akes No DifferenceB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淔at Lip.B次元官网网址�

The band is approaching the last dates on their farewell tour with two final shows in Toronto on Jan. 28 and 30. TheyB次元官网网址檒l be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards in March.

Part of the wind-up of WhibleyB次元官网网址檚 band included publishing his memoir, which reflected on the meteoric rise that was propelled at least partly by Nori.

Not sharing his relationship with Nori in the pages of his book seemed impossible, explained Whibley. He said those secret experiences had been wearing away on him for years.

B次元官网网址淚 said yes to writing a memoir about my life. Well, hereB次元官网网址檚 my life,B次元官网网址� he said on Sunday.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know how you would not tell some of those stories. It was so intertwined with the band. ItB次元官网网址檚 not just this side thing that happened B次元官网网址� he was our manager (and) producer.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 what the songs are about. ItB次元官网网址檚 the struggle through making those records. All of that is wrapped up in it.B次元官网网址�

Whibley didnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily expect his dispute with Nori to escalate to a possible court showdown, he said. But he also hadnB次元官网网址檛 ruled it out.

B次元官网网址淚f it went that far B次元官网网址� to go to a court, a judge and jury B次元官网网址� like, great. IB次元官网网址檓 fine with that. ItB次元官网网址檚 perfect,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭o me, the world is already the judge and jury. I just put it out there.B次元官网网址�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2025.

David Friend, The Canadian Press