Country superstar Garth Brooks has been accused of rape and sexual assault, according to a lawsuit obtained by ABC News.
The plaintiff, referred to throughout the court documents as Jane Roe, filed the lawsuit in the California Supreme Court in Los Angeles County on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Jane Roe is identified in the lawsuit as a professional makeup artist and hairstylist with more than 30 years in the music industry who was first hired to do makeup and hair for Brooks’ wife, Trisha Yearwood, in 1999.
Garth Brooks performs at Croke Park in Dublin., Sept. 9, 2022.
Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images
Brooks responded to the allegations in a statement to ABC News on Thursday night.
“For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars. It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face,” his statement read. “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of — ugly acts no human should ever do to another.”
The statement continued, “We filed suit against this person nearly a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character. We filed it anonymously for the sake of families on both sides.”
“I want to play music tonight. I want to continue our good deeds going forward,” the statement concluded. “It breaks my heart these wonderful things are in question now. I trust the system, I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be.”
According to the lawsuit, Roe began her working relationship with Brooks, now 62, in 2017.
Roe says in the complaint she was hired by Brooks more often beginning in 2019 after he learned she was “experiencing financial difficulties.”
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The plaintiff claims her working relationship with Brooks took a turn in May 2019 when she claims the Grammy-winning singer raped her on a professional trip to Los Angeles.
According to the lawsuit, Roe alleges that she traveled to Los Angeles with Brooks and they were the “only two passengers” on his private jet. Once at their hotel, Roe says she learned that Brooks had “booked a hotel suite with one bedroom, and she did not have a separate room,” the lawsuit alleges.
Roe claims she felt “trapped” in the hotel room, where Brooks allegedly exposed himself and raped her.
Garth Brooks performs during the Academy of Country Music Awards in Frisco, Texas, May 11, 2023.
Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images
“Brooks rape of Ms. Roe was painful and traumatic,” the court doc reads. “With cold disregard for Ms. Roe, when Brooks finished, it was business as usual. Ms. Roe worked quickly to style his hair and do his make-up for the event so he was on time.”
Roe is also accusing Brooks in the lawsuit of making multiple explicit remarks and advances she said were unwelcome, sexual assault in additional instances and sexual abuse.
“Eventually Ms. Roe was unable to continue working for Brooks and she sought legal counsel about what had happened,” the doc states. “In addition, in or about May 2021, Ms. Roe moved to Mississippi.”
In the lawsuit, lawyers for Roe pointed out that Brooks filed an anonymous lawsuit on Sept. 13, 2024, under the pseudonym John Doe.
According to the lawsuit obtained by ABC News, Brooks filed it to “obtain relief from Defendant’s ongoing attempted extortion, defamation” and “false allegations of sexual misconduct that would irreparably harm” his “reputation, family, career and livelihood.”
The plaintiff is demanding a trial by jury on all triable issues and seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees and “further relief as the court may deem proper.”
In his lawsuit, Brooks is also demanding a trial by jury and compensatory and punitive damages.
“We applaud our client’s courage in moving forward with her complaint against Garth Brooks,” Roe’s attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and Hayley Baker, said in a statement. “The complaint filed today demonstrates that sexual predators exist not only in corporate America, Hollywood and in the rap and rock and roll industries but also in the world of country music.”
“We are confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions and his efforts to silence our client through the filing of a preemptive complaint in Mississippi was nothing other than an act of desperation and attempted intimidation,” Wigdor and Baker’s statement continued. “We encourage others who may have been victimized to contact us as no survivor should suffer in silence.”
Country music superstar Garth Brooks is facing a lawsuit alleging rape and sexual assault by his former makeup artist. The lawsuit, filed by the makeup artist, whose name has not been disclosed, claims that Brooks engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior towards her during their working relationship.
According to the lawsuit, the makeup artist alleges that Brooks raped her on multiple occasions, including once in a hotel room while on tour. She also claims that he subjected her to unwanted sexual advances and harassment, creating a hostile work environment.
The lawsuit further alleges that Brooks used his power and influence to manipulate and control the makeup artist, threatening to ruin her career if she did not comply with his demands. The makeup artist also claims that she was retaliated against when she tried to speak out about the abuse.
Brooks has denied the allegations, calling them “completely baseless and without merit.” In a statement released by his legal team, Brooks stated, “I have always been a strong advocate for women’s rights and have never engaged in any form of sexual misconduct.”
The lawsuit comes at a time when the #MeToo movement has brought increased attention to issues of sexual harassment and abuse in the entertainment industry. Many high-profile figures have been accused of misconduct in recent years, leading to a reckoning within the industry.
It is important to note that these are just allegations at this point and that Brooks has not been convicted of any crimes. However, the lawsuit serves as a reminder of the power dynamics at play in the entertainment industry and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.
As the case unfolds, it will be important to listen to all parties involved and allow for a fair and thorough investigation to take place. It is crucial that victims of abuse are able to come forward and seek justice, while also ensuring that those accused are given a fair opportunity to defend themselves.
In the meantime, fans of Garth Brooks and supporters of the #MeToo movement alike will be watching closely as this case develops and hoping for a just resolution for all involved.
