Michigan’s ‘DJ Attak’ detained on domestic violence charges after shocking allegations

The Michigan electronic dance music community has distanced itself from, Chad Smith, a prominent DJ and event company president amid allegations of domestic violence.

Chad Smith, also known as “DJ Attak” and the president of Ignyte Events, was arrested on Sunday and released on Monday after being charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Heather Nemat shared her story on social media, posting photos on Instagram that showed her with a chipped tooth and extensive bruises.

“My face is swollen, my tooth is broken, both my arms are bruised from shoulder down, my fingers are still bleeding from where my nails were ripped off,” she wrote. “Thankfully I’m alive, thankfully I’m safe, no concussion. I will be learning to heal not only physically but mentally and emotionally.”

In another post, she stated, “Anyone on his side is an enemy of mine and you can go f yourself.” Following the news, Ignyte Events announced that Smith had resigned via Facebook.

In response, Michigan music venues like, The Crofoot, have also cut ties with Ignyte Events. The venue announced, “The Crofoot is suspending its partnership with Chad Smith and Ignyte Events effective immediately. We stand firmly against all forms of violence and want to reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe, fun, and supportive environment for our fans and the communities we serve. Our values are deeply rooted in respect, integrity, and compassion for one another, which is why we are taking this necessary step.”

Several EDM artists have also withdrawn from Ignyte Events. Ray Volpe stated, “I was announced to perform a show in Detroit earlier today with Ignyte Events, and I’m just now seeing and hearing about the owner’s actions and behavior. It’s absolutely disgusting and inhumane. I will not be playing that show any longer.” Svdden Death wrote, “fyi we are pulling this promoter on my tour as well, working on a new plan in Detroit’.

Eptic also canceled his performance, writing on X, “Just been made aware of Ignyte event owners’ actions and I’ve gotta pull off. I don’t want to work with/support abusers, simple as that. I’m sorry for anyone who was looking forward to the show. I still very much want to play in Detroit, so my team is looking for other options that don’t involve Ignyte Events. They’re not in the spotlight as much, but we gotta hold promoters to the same standards as artists. Swear this is the third time I’ve had to pull a show because the promoter was on some freakster sh*t.”

Heather Nemat later posted on Facebook that she is recovering from her injuries. “The worst people I have ever met have come from this scene,” she wrote. “(Don’t get me wrong, I’ve also met the best ones too) But I will be taking some time away from this industry as a whole.” A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by a friend to cover Nemat’s medical, dental, and possible legal expenses. The court hearing for the arraignment is on August 5th.

Featured photo: Facebook / Heather Nemat

About The Author

Jaci Soukhathivong

An Atlanta gal chasing her love for electronic dance music. I’ve been with Exron since 2018 and have the privilege of contributing to the culture alongside other badass women whom I now call my friends. My introduction to the scene was first influenced by trap music, but my discography has since expanded to touch a bit of everything. Some of my favorite artists are Zeds Dead, Cloonee, Nghtmre, Flume, Infekt, Sosa, Bleu Clair, Subtronics, but the list goes on forever.

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