Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, openly described in his 2004 autobiography Scar Tissue having sex with a 14-year-old girl when he was approximately 23 years old.

In the book, Kiedis recounts meeting a young woman with bleached-blond hair after a show. They spent the night together, during which he learned she attended Catholic school (an encounter that later inspired the band’s song “Catholic School Girls Rule”). The next day, the band drove to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with her joining them. After the performance, she approached him backstage and revealed critical information:

 

“My father’s the chief of police and the entire state of Louisiana is looking for me because I’ve gone missing. Oh, and besides that, I’m only fourteen.”

 

Kiedis wrote that he was not “incredibly scared” because he believed her claim of being in love with him would protect him. He continued:

 

“but I did want to get her the hell back home right away. So we had sex one more time.”

 

Under Louisiana law in the 1980s (and still today under La. R.S. 14:80), carnal knowledge of a juvenile — commonly known as statutory rape — occurs when a person 17 or older has sexual intercourse with someone between 13 and 17 years old, where the age difference is four or more years. Consent is not a legal defense in these cases. Kiedis was nearly a decade older than the girl.

This admission has been public for over 20 years through a widely sold bestseller, yet there has been no public investigation or accountability. The statute of limitations has long expired for events from the mid-1980s, and no victim has come forward publicly to press charges. However, public confessions of this nature raise serious questions about accountability, especially for a high-profile artist whose music continues to reach new generations, including minors. We are not asking for vigilante justice or ignoring legal realities. We demand transparency and official review:

•  The Louisiana Attorney General and Baton Rouge authorities to formally acknowledge and review the account described in Scar Tissue.

•  California authorities (where Kiedis resides) to assess any relevant implications.

•  Greater public awareness so that fans, venues, streaming platforms, and sponsors can make informed decisions about continuing to platform the band without addressing this history.

Fame should not shield anyone from scrutiny when they themselves document behavior that would be criminal today and was illegal then. “It was a different time” or “rock star excess” cannot excuse actions involving a child. Victims of statutory rape — even those from decades ago — deserve recognition that such conduct is taken seriously.

Sign this petition to send a clear message: No one is above the law, and public admissions in bestselling books should not simply be ignored. Demand accountability, investigation where possible, and an end to normalizing predatory behavior in the music industry. Also, Anthony could be replaced by other singers that aren’t problematic and sound similar to him like Mike Patton from Faith No More (I don’t know if he still dislikes RHCP nowadays), Brandon Boyd from Incubus, Pat Dubar from Mind Funk or a singer from a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band.