After two decades of marriage, Arcade Fire’s lead singers and founding members, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, have announced their separation — but say their “bond as creative soulmates will endure.”
The pair shared a joint statement on social media Thursday confirming the split, emphasizing that while their romantic relationship has ended, their commitment to Arcade Fire remains unchanged.
“Our bond as creative soulmates will endure, as will Arcade Fire,” the statement read.
Butler and Chassagne first met at McGill University in Montreal as the band was forming and married in 2003. Together, they helped shape Arcade Fire into one of Canada’s most acclaimed indie rock acts.
The band broke into the mainstream with The Suburbs, which won Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards, cementing their place in alternative rock history.
In recent years, the couple weathered personal and public challenges. In 2022, Pitchfork published allegations from four individuals accusing Butler of inappropriate sexual interactions. Butler denied any misconduct, acknowledging extramarital relationships but maintaining they were consensual.
Earlier this year, Arcade Fire released their seventh studio album, Pink Elephant, followed by a world tour.
The couple said they continue to “love, admire and support each other” as they co-parent their 12-year-old son, reaffirming that their partnership as musicians and parents remains strong despite the personal transition.