Keith Urban ‘horrified’ by Boston woes; rape suspect pleads not guilty

Keith Urban spoke out regarding events at his recent Boston concert on Thursday, the same day an 18-year-old Boston man was charged with raping a 17-year-old at that Saturday show.

“My team and I were horrified to learn of the events reported in Boston this past weekend and our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected,” the country star and “American Idol” judge said in a statement on his website. “This type of behavior stands in stark contrast to the spirit of our shows.”

Sean Murphy, who was arrested Saturday night at the Xfinity Center, pleaded not guilty Thursday to raping the teen on the lawn at the outdoor venue. He told police that the encounter, which was photographed and videotaped by several onlookers, was consensual, the Attleboro (Mass.) Sun-Chronicle reported.

Police said the two teens hadn’t met before the concert and had both been drinking. A woman ultimately pulled Murphy off the girl after the 17-year-old told her she was not consenting to what was going on.

In Urban’s statement, he presumably was responding not only to the alleged rape but also to the fact that nearly four dozen concertgoers had required medical treatment that night, with 22 of them hospitalized, according to the Boston Herald.

In addition, “Police dealt with a steady stream of intoxicated persons as well, resulting in over 50 people being taken into protective custody and a number of others arrested for alcohol-related issues,” authorities said in a statement obtained by the Herald.

Urban himself has been sober since 2006; the singer went into rehab for alcohol and cocaine abuse a little more than a year after marrying Nicole Kidman, with whom he now has two daughters.

The “Cop Car” singer’s tour touches down in St. Louis on Friday, with a SoCal stop scheduled for Sept. 5 in Irvine.

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