Country superstar, Las Vegas headliner fires back on assault charges
Country superstar and long-running Las Vegas headliner Garth Brooks, saying he feels like he’s “having a loaded gun waved in my face,” has been accused of sexual assault and battery.
The allegations have been leveled in a lawsuit from an unidentified woman who claims to have worked as a hairstylist and makeup artist for the country artist.
In a suit filed in state court in California on Thursday and first reported by CNN, a woman identified as “Jane Roe” has accused Brooks of sexual assault and says she was raped once by Brooks while on a work trip. The alleged incidents occurred in 2019.
Hours after CNN posted its stunning story, Brooks’ PR reps issued his response.
“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. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior 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.”
Brooks is scheduled to return to his “Plus One” residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
The superstar has previously and “fiercely” denied his accuser’s claims in a previous complaint he had filed on Sept. 13 in Mississippi as “John Doe.” Records show the suit was filed in that state because it is Jane Roe’s residence.
According to her lawsuit, Roe began working for Brooks in 2017. She was originally hired by Brooks wife, country superstar Trisha Yearwood, in 1999.
Roe claims Brooks raped her in a Los Angeles hotel room in May 2019, as Brooks was scheduled to tape a tribute performance at the Grammy Awards show. The two had traveled together on a private jet.
The suit further accuses Brooks of exposing himself, talking about sex and sharing fantasies with the employee, changing his clothes in front of Roe and sending her explicit text messages.
As plaintiff John Doe, Brooks claims that defendant Roe’s attorney sent him a “confidential” demand letter alleging sexual misconduct after he declined Roe’s request for “salaried employment and medical benefits.”
“Defendant’s allegations are not true,” Brooks’ previous lawsuit, filed in Mississippi, states. “Defendant 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.”
Roe’s attorneys said they applaud the legal action.
“We are confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions,” attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor, Jeanne M. Christensen and Hayley Baker said in a statement. “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.”
Brooks’ “Plus One” shows opened at the Colosseum in May 2023, and are due to close after a set of shows Feb. 21-March 9. He headlined a sold-out, critically acclaimed solo show at Encore Theater from 2009-14.
The 62-year-old “Friend in Low Places” hitmaker debuted in Las Vegas in October 1991, a co-headlining appearance with Carlene Carter at Desert Inn.
Brooks also filled Thomas & Mack Center for three shows in August 1993, and again for four shows in August 1998, He was among the first headliners at T-Mobile Arena in 2016, and Allegiant Stadium in July 2021.
Cool Hang Alert
“Abandon,” the disquieting trek through the writings of Marquis de Sade in his asylum period, returns to Vegas Theatre Company annex in the Arts District on Oct. 11. This is a series of stunning vignettes, flashing in the deep darkness, no dialogue but a searing sound bed and terrifying visuals.
I’ve not seen anything like it in VegasVille. It’s not for the meek. So see it. Show times for the Oct. 11-12 shows are 10 p.m., and time vary from 7, 8 and 10 p.m. during the run, through Nov. 3. Go to theatre.vegas/abandon to purchase.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
