Garth Brooks has spoken out about the accusations of sexual assault by a former employee, denying any wrongdoing.
It comes as a female using the pseudonym Jane Roe in court filed a lawsuit against the country music star, accusing him of sexual assault and battery.
Roe’s allegations claimed that Brooks raped her in a hotel room in 2019, and would grope her and make sexually explicit comments when she worked as his hairstylist and make-up artist between 2017 and 2020.
The filing in the Los Angeles Court also saw Roe claim that she contemplated taking her own life after the instances of sexual assault became “so unbearable”.
Now, the two-time Grammy winner has spoken out about the allegations raised against him, and branded the lawsuit as an attempt at extortion for “millions of dollars”.
“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,” he said in a new statement (via Independent). “It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face.”
He continued: “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behaviour I am incapable of – ugly acts no human should ever do to another.”
Garth Brooks performs during the 2024 Gershwin Prize. CREDIT: Taylor Hill/WireImage/Getty
According to the lawsuit, Roe says she felt forced to continue working for Brooks due to her financial situation. She also claims that the musician knew about the monetary hardship she was facing and would allegedly exploit her due to it.
Lawyers from Wigdor LLP shared a statement with PA (via LBC), speaking on behalf of the woman, saying: “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.”
They continued: “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. We encourage others who may have been victimised to contact us as no survivor should suffer in silence.”
Ahead of the filing by Roe, Brooks filed an anonymous lawsuit in Mississippi last month. In it, he requested that a judge stop “false allegations of sexual misconduct” being published as it would “irreparably harm (his) reputation, family, career and livelihood”.
Speaking to PA, the singer-songwriter shared a statement about the allegations from the former employee. “I want to play music tonight. I want to continue our good deeds going forward. It breaks my heart these wonderful things are in question now,” he said.
“I trust the system, I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be.”
For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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