The future of an international drumming competition designed to highlight and encourage young female drummers is in doubt after the program's co-founder/executive director resigned earlier this month following allegations that he made inappropriate comments to one of the contestants.
David Levine was asked to resign from Los Angeles-based nonprofit Hit Like a Girl on March 10 after Irish singer-drummer Ria Rua posted an Instagram video claiming he asked her for “inappropriate photos” in 2019 and told the then-20- years old, she “enjoyed” blurring the outline of her breast in one of her photos so she could use it in promotional material for the pageant. Levine says his comments were meant to be supportive and sarcastic, not offensive.
“Women shouldn't be dealing with this stuff,” Rua said in the Instagram video. She then shared a screenshot of Levine's email, which included the line: “Send me more of these photos, even the ones your mom might not like.” For “context,” he then showed the profile picture from the contest entry page that prompted his request. In this one she wasn't wearing a top under her jacket. “He worked on my breast and said he liked it,” she said.
Rua says Advertising sign that, in addition to the email, Levine made some of these comments in two phone calls. She said she asked if her mom liked the photo and she said, “I don't know. I'm sure she doesn't like it.” The second call was about a possible cymbal endorsement deal, in which she said she uploaded the altered photo and he said he “enjoyed photoshopping my breasts.”
In a statement announcing his resignation, posted on Instagram, Levine said: “I want to sincerely apologize for the inappropriate and offensive comments I made to [Ria Rua] as well as the damage my behavior has caused to others in the female drumming community. There is no excuse for my poor judgment, abuse of power, and undermining of the good works of Hit Like A Girl. The Hit Like A Girl Board has requested my resignation as Executive Director, and I fully comply with that request, effective today, March 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. PT. Additionally, I will be participating in sexual harassment sensitivity counseling in the coming days.”
He concluded: “Until new directors can be installed, the Hit Like A Girl and Drum Summit websites, social media and YouTube along with all current projects will be suspended,” adding, “I would ask everyone in the drumming community to continue to support the development of female drummers through other channels.”
When reached for comment, Levine – who also owns TRX Cymbals and developed Drum Summit: Empowering Women Through Drumming – said Advertising sign in an email, “Board members requested my resignation immediately after Ria Rua's messages were published and I complied. I sincerely hope that the organization's mission and work will continue, however I am not participating in this process.” He also said his comments to Rua were “my attempt at sarcasm.”
Sexual harassment is by far the most widely reported problem facing female creators in the music industry, according to a 2021 study by MIDiA Research, in partnership with Tunecore and its parent company, Believe. The study found that “nearly two-thirds of female creators identified sexual harassment or objectification as a key challenge.” The #MeToo movement has empowered women to come forward with personal stories, ranging from drugs and rape to sexist behavior and misogyny. The industry, as a whole, still seems reluctant to speak up, instead becoming more comfortable with women's equality and advancement, including with initiatives like the Hit Like a Girl contest.
Rua started playing music in elementary school, first on the tin whistle and then on the guitar. At 12, she picked up drums and accompanied an accordion band and then joined the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. In 2017, she took part in a Hit Like a Girl competition, which she says seemed “huge”, sponsored by “all the big companies” and judged by “the best drummers and percussionists in the world”. In 2018, he won the organization's Joe Hibbs Award.
Rua decided to share her story now, she says Advertising sign, because she writes songs about women's issues and had just released a new song about that experience and wanted to “practice what I preach.” In the Instagram video, she also noted that she was inspired to speak out by recent allegations of sexual misconduct, “especially all the P. Diddy stuff.”
“[Levine] is still in charge of it [Hit Like A Girl] and it's still running to this day,” she said in her video. “If it happened to me, I'm sure it happened to other women out there.”
Less than a year after Rua's episodes with Levine, she says she told a then-Hit Like a Girl board member. He asked the board member to discuss it with the board, but not to tell Levine. The board member, who left the organization in 2021 because of what Rua told her about Levine — and does not want to be named because of an unrelated personal matter — confirmed that account to Advertising sign. “I had no proof of anything. Officially I couldn't do anything.”
“At the time, I was still scared,” says Rua. “This guy is huge. Hit Like a Girl is running. He owns the company TRX Cymbal. He owns another management company that manages many of the top brands.”
Rua posted a second video in which she cried and thanked everyone for their support, then a third video explaining that she appeared because she had written her song “Asking For It” “about my story with David” and now, when he sings, “I'll remember the support I had.”
Hit Like A Girl began in 2012 “as a drum development/marketing competition,” as Levine puts it, which he co-founded. DRUM! magazine publisher Phil Hood and Mindy Abovitchfounder of women's focus Tom Tom magazine — both left the organization years ago.
Levine said Advertising sign in an email that Rua entered the pageant in 2017 and 2018 under her birth name — which Advertising sign decided not to run at her request — and that during that time they “had many conversations via phone, email, text, etc.” He continued, “She was a talented musician and an interesting person.” He also attached the 2017 photo he submitted. Rua says they only exchanged one email and one Instagram message and had two phone calls. He gave the email and Instagram message Advertising sign.
“Sometime in 2018 [name redacted] introduced her new persona, Ria Rua, with a whole new look,” says Levine Advertising sign in an email. “During a phone call I asked her if I could use one of the photos for a social media post to promote her and the contest. She told me her mother didn't approve of them. I replied in an email that she had to send me the photos, “even her mom might not like it.” As with the rest of the email, I was trying to show support, but unfortunately my attempt at sarcasm was not appreciated.
“I felt the image she sent me was a bit provocative for the Hit Like A Girl audience, so I retouched it and sent it back to her for approval, which she provided. I remember our conversation saying something to the effect that I was glad I could photoshop the image to make it fit to share.'
Rua says she clearly remembers him using the word “enjoyed” when talking about editing the photo. After that, he never participated in the competition again.
Hit Like A Girl incorporated and received 501(c)(3) charitable status in 2021, and Levine became executive director, he said. Advertising sign, “with a board that included six women.” He added, “We also created funds in nearly 60 countries around the world that were run exclusively by women. I often relied on these women for advice and approval.”
After Rua's post, she says other women have shared similar mail they received from Levine or conversations they had with him after entering the pageant.
A California-based drummer — who does not wish to be named — shared screenshots Advertising sign about “some weird things he said to me in the text.”
In the thread, Levine provides suggestions on drum technique, then writes, “Second, try to move your head and body more when you play to show that you're feeling better and having fun. It'll drive the boys crazy.” In another, she writes, “Let me know if you get back to LA. Maybe I'll break quarantine for you,” followed by a winking emoji. In reference to some photos she had submitted during the pandemic, she also remarked, “I should get you a sexier mask, though. You look like a nursing home nurse.'
Asked about those comments, Levine said Advertising sign in an email, “I don't recall the other exchange you mentioned, but I did offer advice on how contestants could improve their entries from time to time when asked. I see now that my comments were inappropriate.”
She concludes by writing that Hit Like A Girl has achieved “a lot of amazing and unprecedented things for girls and women over the past 12 years, most notably the fact that drums are no longer considered a 'gender' instrument.”
