Country music legend Garth Brooks is facing serious allegations after a hairstylist and makeup artist, identified as “Jane Roe,” filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault and battery. The lawsuit, filed in California state court on October 3, details accusations that Brooks, 62, raped and sexually harassed the plaintiff throughout 2019. These incidents reportedly took place during her time working for Brooks, after she had been hired to style him and his wife, fellow country star Trisha Yearwood.
In the lawsuit, Roe alleges that Brooks exposed himself, made inappropriate sexual advances, and engaged in other harassing behaviors over the course of their professional relationship. According to the court documents, Roe claims Brooks took advantage of her financial difficulties by increasing her workload, only to subject her to these unwelcome encounters.
The most damning allegation in the lawsuit is that Brooks raped Roe in a Los Angeles hotel suite in May 2019, ahead of a Grammy tribute performance. The complaint states that Roe was “physically dominated” by Brooks and unable to escape the assault due to his size.
Despite this traumatic event, Roe says she continued working for him, feeling trapped in a toxic and abusive work environment where he continued to grope her and make sexually charged comments.
Roe’s legal team asserts that Brooks’ behavior escalated, including claims that he exposed his genitals, made crude remarks about sexual fantasies, and even proposed a threesome involving Yearwood. Roe alleges that Yearwood was present for some of Brooks’ inappropriate comments, though there has been no response from Yearwood regarding the claims.
The lawsuit also details how Roe texted Brooks about her discomfort after one of his inappropriate remarks. In response, Brooks allegedly dismissed her concerns, telling her she was “overthinking” the situation. In another instance, Brooks reportedly deleted explicit text messages he had sent to Roe, further complicating the situation. Roe eventually moved to Mississippi in May 2021, ending her working relationship with the couple.
Brooks has denied the allegations, calling them an attempt at extortion. In a statement to “PEOPLE”, he described the last few months as a period filled with “threats, lies, and tragic tales” and claims that the accusations are part of a campaign to extract millions from him. He asserts that paying what he calls “hush money” would be akin to admitting to acts he insists he is “incapable of.”
In response to Roe’s lawsuit, Brooks had filed a preemptive complaint under the name “John Doe” in September, accusing Roe of attempting to damage his reputation and extort him. His legal team describes the allegations as fabricated and harmful, claiming that Roe’s intention was to destroy Brooks’ “well-earned reputation” and cause irreparable damage to both his career and personal life.
Roe’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, expressed confidence in their case, stating that over time, the public will see the true nature of Brooks’ character, contradicting his “highly curated persona.”
As this lawsuit unfolds, the country music star’s reputation faces serious scrutiny. While Brooks continues to stand by his denial of the accusations, Roe’s legal battle is sure to draw significant attention as both sides prepare for what promises to be a high-profile case.
