Country star accused of sexual assault in lawsuit

Country music superstar Garth Brooks has been accused of assault and battery in a lawsuit filed in California state court.

The accuser, who used the pseudonym “Jane Roe,” was working as a hairstylist and makeup artist for the Grammy-winning singer when he raped her, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit against the woman alleges he also repeatedly groped her and made sexually explicit comments to her during her employment from 2017-2020.

In a statement to the BBC, Brooks said the lawsuit against the woman was “extortion and defamation.”

In May 2019, the accuser alleges that Mr. Brooks asked her to travel with him on his private jet to a Grammy tribute in Los Angeles.

When they arrived at the hotel, Mr. Brooks had only booked one one-bedroom suite for them both to share, according to the legal action.

Her lawsuit alleges that once inside the hotel suite, Mr. Brooks appeared naked in the bedroom doorway before raping her.

After the alleged assault, she says Brooks continued to make sexual advances on other occasions, forcing her to place her hands on his genitals and share his fantasies, the lawsuit said.

The legal action also claims that Mr Brooks proposed to have a threesome with his wife, fellow Australian Trisha Yearwood. The BBC has asked Ms Yearwood for comment.

In his statement to the BBC, Brooks said: ‘Over the past two months I have been endlessly harassed with threats, lies and tragic stories about what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of people. dollars It was like waving a loaded gun in my face.

“Hush money, no matter how much or how little it is, is still hush money. In my eyes, this means admitting to behavior that I am not capable of: ugly acts that no human being should ever do to another.”

He added: “I want to play music tonight. I want to continue our good deeds in the future. It breaks my heart that these wonderful things are now being questioned. I trust the system, I’m not afraid of the truth, and I’m not the man they painted me to be.”

Litigation over the case began three weeks ago with an anonymous lawsuit filed in Mississippi federal court by someone described as “a celebrity and public figure living in Tennessee.” This was Mr. Brooks.

Mr Brooks said Jane Roe made the accusation after he rejected her request for gainful employment and medical benefits.

His pre-emptive legal action strongly denied her allegations, labeling them “abhorrent and untrue.”

Brooks’ lawsuit also said the allegations constituted a threat intended to cause “substantial, irreparable harm” to his reputation, family and career.

On Thursday, Jane Roe’s attorneys filed their 27-page legal brief in Los Angeles Superior Court.

In addition to assault and battery, her lawsuit accuses Mr. Brooks of repeatedly exposing himself, making sexually explicit comments and sending inappropriate text messages.

Garth Brooks is a household name known far beyond the country music genre.

According to Jane Roe’s lawsuit, he is a two-time Grammy winner, has sold more than 162 million albums and is worth approximately $400 million.

He is known for his commitment to philanthropic work, particularly supporting organizations that benefit children and provide local relief after natural disasters.