Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley alleges sexual abuse by former manager in new memoir

Deryck Whibley, frontman of Sum 41, has come forward with allegations of sexual and verbal abuse by his former manager, Greig Nori, in his new memoir, Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell. The memoir, released as the band embarks on its farewell tour, reveals the traumatic experiences Whibley faced early in his career. Nori, who was a mentor and manager for the band, allegedly groomed and abused Whibley starting when he was 16 and Nori was 34.

Whibley describes the abuse as both sexual and psychological, alleging that Nori manipulated him into believing they had a “special connection” that justified the inappropriate relationship. According to the memoir, Nori initially gained Whibley’s trust by helping him and his band get noticed in the Canadian punk scene, before taking advantage of the young musician’s naivety.

Nori has not responded to multiple requests for comment by The Los Angeles Times, which broke the story on October 7, 2024. Whibley also detailed how Nori allegedly discouraged him from keeping in touch with his parents, attempting to isolate him further during the height of Sum 41’s early success.

In an interview with The Times, Whibley revealed that his wife, Ariana Cooper, and ex-wife, Avril Lavigne, were among the few who knew about the abuse, with both women labeling Nori’s behavior as sexual abuse. “I didn’t hold back,” Whibley told The Times about writing the memoir, stating that he wanted to be as honest as possible about his experiences.

Whibley’s memoir provides a sobering glimpse into the darker side of fame and the lasting impact of manipulation in the music industry.