Garth Brooks has been accused of sexual assault in a new lawsuit filed by a make-up artist and hair stylist who worked for the country star and his wife Trisha Yearwood. Lawyers working for the accuser, listed as Jane Roe on the lawsuit, have also criticised Brooks for filing his own anonymous legal action last month which, they say, was part of an attempt to “silence and bully” their client.
In a statement, Roe’s legal team say, “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”. Brooks “efforts to silence our client through the filing of a preemptive complaint”, they add, “was nothing other than an act of desperation and attempted intimidation”.
Brooks has already responded to the litigation, denying the allegations against him and accusing Roe of extortion. In a statement to Deadline, he says, “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 cheque for many millions of dollars”.
He went legal to try to end these alleged efforts at extortion, he adds, being unwilling to pay Roe off. “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”.
“We filed suit against this person nearly a month ago”, he continues, “to speak out against extortion and defamation of character”. The lawsuit was filed anonymously, with Brooks listed as John Doe, “for the sake of families on both sides”, he insists.
In her lawsuit, Roe says that she began working as a make-up artist and hair stylist for Yearwood all the way back in 1999, adding Brooks as a client in 2017.
He started using her services more often in 2019 after learning Roe was experiencing financial difficulties. Roe appreciated this gesture, the lawsuit explains, but “it did not take long for Brooks to take advantage of her financial hardship”, with the musician allegedly abusing his position as Roe’s employer knowing that her financial situation made it difficult for her to quit.
The lawsuit sets out various incidents of sexual harassment and assault, as well as other misconduct on Brooks’ part. It describes a number of the alleged incidents in graphic detail, including a rape in an LA hotel room in May 2019.
Later, the lawsuit references the legal action launched by Brooks last month, which it dubs a “preemptive abusive complaint”. In that legal filing, it states, “Brooks labeled himself the ‘victim’ and claimed that Ms Roe was a lying extortionist who intended on destroying his professional reputation”.
That legal filing, Roe’s lawsuit claims, “is a blatant attempt to further control and bully his sexual assault victim by utilising his multi-millionaire resources to game the legal system”.
Brooks’ statement on Roe’s litigation concludes, “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. I trust the system, I do not fear the truth and I am not the man they have painted me to be”.
Meanwhile, Roe’s lawyers at Wigdor LLP and HB Advocates PLLC, add, “We applaud our client’s courage in moving forward with her complaint against Garth Brooks. We are confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions. We encourage others who may have been victimised to contact us as no survivor should suffer in silence”.