Country music icon Garth Brooks is pushing back hard against a lawsuit filed by a former makeup artist and stylist, who has accused him of rape, sexual harassment, and years of misconduct. Hours after the lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Brooks issued a statement, calling the accusations a “shakedown” for millions of dollars and categorically denying the claims.
In a statement provided to Deadline, Brooks did not hold back:
“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. “It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face.”
The accuser, who has chosen to remain anonymous under the pseudonym Jane Roe, worked closely with Brooks and his wife, fellow country star Trisha Yearwood, as their makeup artist and stylist. In her lawsuit, Roe alleges that Brooks sexually assaulted her in a “violent attack” starting in 2019, coupled with years of inappropriate behavior, including groping and lewd comments. According to Roe, Brooks took advantage of her financially vulnerable position, knowing she needed the work.
Brooks’ statement comes in response to the lawsuit and sheds light on the legal back-and-forth between the two parties. Last month, Brooks had already filed a lawsuit against Roe in Mississippi, which his team says was an attempt to preempt her going public with her allegations. He accused her of attempting to extort him for a multi-million-dollar payout.
Roe’s latest legal filing in California escalates the situation, bringing serious allegations of sexual assault to light. In her claims, she asserts that Brooks’ behavior was not only inappropriate but criminal and lasted for years while she worked under him. Roe’s lawsuit paints Brooks as someone who abused his power, allegedly groping her and making unwelcome sexual advances during their working relationship.With two starkly different stories, the legal battle between Garth Brooks and his former stylist is set to become highly scrutinized. Brooks has firmly denied the claims and labeled the lawsuit a “money grab,” asserting that her allegations are part of a plot to pressure him into a financial settlement.
In his statement, Brooks expressed his frustration at what he believes are false allegations:
“It has been exhausting to deal with these lies, and I refuse to be intimidated into silence or into writing a check,”Brooks said, making it clear that he intends to fight the accusations in court.
At this point, Brooks’ legal team has not provided any further comment on the specifics of the Mississippi lawsuit he filed in defense, nor have they addressed what next steps they will take as the case unfolds.
