A hairstylist and makeup artist has filed a lawsuit against Garth Brooks, accusing the country music icon of sexual assault and battery.
The plaintiff filed the complaint as "Jane Roe" in California state court on October 3. It states, "Brooks is desperate to prevent his millions of fans from learning about the horrific things he has said and done to a junior female employee who did nothing to deserve such treatment."
The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct and are looking for support, consult the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime to find resources in your area.
In the complaint, Roe alleges that Brooks, 62, raped her, exposed his genitals, spoke openly about sex and related fantasies, changed clothes in her presence and sent sexually explicit text messages.
Roe was hired for makeup and styling services in 1999 by Brooks's wife, Trisha Yearwood, and began working with Brooks in 2017. The complaint says that in 2019, Brooks learned that Roe was experiencing financial hardships and began hiring her more often.
Soon after, "Brooks seized what he saw as an opportunity to subject a female employee to a side of Brooks that he conceals from the public," the complaint reads. "This side of Brooks believes he is entitled to sexual gratification when he wants it, and using a female employee to get it, is fair game."
The complaint also notes that in September, Brooks filed a preemptive complaint as "John Doe," in which he claims Roe "was a lying extortionist who intended on destroying his professional reputation."
"[Roe's] allegations are not true," the John Doe complaint reads [via People]. "[Roe] 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. Indeed, such knowledge no doubt explains why [Roe] threatened to file suit through a 'confidential' demand letter rather than simply filing suit to redress her alleged (but untrue) injuries."
Brooks denied the allegations in a statement to People, saying, "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.
"Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money," he added. "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 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. 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."