NEW YORK — Country music superstar Garth Brooks has publicly responded to a sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed last week by his former hair and makeup artist, who had previously accused him anonymously.
In court documents filed Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Brooks identified himself as the John Doe behind a lawsuit initiated on September 13, seeking a judicial declaration that the woman’s sexual misconduct allegations were false.
The filing also names his accuser, previously identified as Jane Roe.
Brooks, who has denied all accusations, argues that Roe’s claims are defamatory and part of a “shakedown” for money.
His amended complaint, filed in a Mississippi federal court, accuses Roe of fabricating allegations and outlines a financial dispute between the two.
He claims that Roe sought additional financial support after relocating from Tennessee to Mississippi in 2020.
The accusations first surfaced in a civil lawsuit filed by Roe in Los Angeles Superior Court last Thursday, alleging that Brooks raped her in a Los Angeles hotel room in 2019.
Brooks’ legal team claims that these allegations are false.
In Tuesday’s filing, they criticize Roe’s legal team for naming Brooks in the California lawsuit before a Mississippi court could decide whether he could proceed under a pseudonym.
The Fallout and Legal Arguments
Roe’s attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor, Jeanne M. Christensen, and Hayley Baker, have strongly condemned Brooks’ decision to name their client in his amended complaint, accusing the country star of “outing a rape victim” without legal justification.
“Garth Brooks just revealed his true self. Out of spite and to punish, he publicly named a rape victim,” the attorneys said in a statement shared with USA Today.
They further indicated plans to seek maximum sanctions against Brooks for his actions.
Wigdor rejected Brooks’ claims that he was being extorted, stating, “He is far from the victim of a shakedown and in fact offered millions of dollars to keep this matter from becoming public.”
Brooks, through his legal team, maintains that Roe’s lawsuit and demands for money are part of a coercive strategy.
In the amended complaint, Brooks describes Roe as an “independent contractor” who worked with him and his wife, singer Trisha Yearwood, for approximately 15 years.
Brooks claims that after relocating, Roe requested financial assistance due to personal difficulties.
According to Brooks, when he declined further financial help, Roe made “false and outrageous allegations of sexual misconduct.”
Allegations of Assault and Rape
In her lawsuit, Roe alleges that Brooks sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. The first incident allegedly occurred in 2019, when she claims that Brooks exposed himself to her at his home, forcing her hands onto his body.
Roe also claims that Brooks assaulted her again during a trip to Los Angeles for a Grammy tribute in May 2019.
The 27-page lawsuit details graphic accounts of the alleged incidents, including accusations that Brooks coerced her into performing unwanted sexual acts.
Roe, who initially worked as a hairstylist for Yearwood, says the alleged abuse began after she began working directly for Brooks.
A High-Stakes Legal Battle
The ongoing legal battle is likely to stretch on for years, with both sides preparing for protracted litigation.
Brooks has already lost two prior attempts to be released from pseudonym status, with a judge in Mississippi rejecting his requests.
The country star remains firm in his denial of the allegations, recently stating, “I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be.”
Meanwhile, Roe’s legal team has vowed to fight aggressively, seeking justice for their client while criticizing Brooks for attempting to silence her.
As the case continues, it will be closely watched by both the legal community and the public, particularly given Brooks’ high profile and the intense scrutiny surrounding cases involving sexual misconduct.
