Country music icon Garth Brooks has been sued over claims of sexual assault and battery by a former personal hair and makeup artist.
CNN reported that the plaintiff, identified as "Jane Roe," alleges multiple incidents of misconduct occurred in 2019 while she was working for the award-winning singer.
Brooks had previously attempted to block Roe from publicly discussing her allegations, filing a complaint as "John Doe" and vehemently denying the accusations. The lawsuit, filed in a California state court on Thursday, includes claims of rape during a work trip.
The lawsuit states that Roe began providing hair and makeup services for Brooks in 2017. However, her professional relationship with the country music world dates back to 1999, when she was initially hired to work for Brooks' wife, Trisha Yearwood.
According to the legal filing, Roe accuses Brooks of multiple instances of inappropriate behavior. These allegations include repeated exposure of his genitals and buttocks, engaging in sexually explicit conversations, changing clothes in front of her, and sending sexually charged text messages.
The complaint details a disturbing incident in 2019 at Brooks' home, where Roe claims the singer emerged naked from the shower and forcibly placed her hands on his genitals while using vulgar language.
Perhaps the most serious allegation in the lawsuit involves a claimed rape that occurred during a work trip to Los Angeles in May 2019. Roe states that she and Brooks traveled alone on his private jet, which was unusual as there were typically other passengers present.
The suit alleges that upon arrival at their hotel, Roe was shocked to discover that Brooks had booked a suite with only one bedroom. The complaint describes a harrowing scene where Brooks allegedly appeared naked in the bedroom doorway, leaving Roe feeling trapped and vulnerable.
Following the alleged rape, Roe claims that Brooks' inappropriate behavior escalated, with more frequent discussions of sexual fantasies and physical groping. The lawsuit also mentions that Brooks repeatedly made remarks about engaging in a threesome with his wife.
Prior to Roe's lawsuit, Brooks had filed a complaint as "John Doe," attempting to prevent the public disclosure of these allegations. In that filing, Brooks claimed that Roe's attorney had sent a "confidential" demand letter alleging sexual misconduct after he had declined her request for salaried employment and medical benefits.
Brooks' earlier lawsuit stated:
Defendant's allegations are not true. Defendant is well aware, however, of the substantial, irreparable damage such false allegations would do to Plaintiff's well-earned reputation as a decent and caring person, along with the unavoidable damage to his family and the irreparable damage to his career and livelihood that would result if she made good on her threat to 'publicly file' her fabricated lawsuit.
Roe's attorneys have responded forcefully to Brooks' previous attempts to silence their client. In a statement to CNN, they said:
We are confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions. We applaud our client's courage in moving forward with her complaint against Garth Brooks. 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.
As this story continues to develop, the country music world and fans of Garth Brooks are left grappling with these shocking allegations. The lawsuit against one of the industry's biggest stars highlights ongoing concerns about sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry, extending its reach into the realm of country music. With both sides presenting conflicting narratives, the legal process will likely be closely watched as it unfolds in the coming months.
