Garth Brooks accused of sexual assault and battery by makeup artist in new lawsuit
The former makeup artist worked for both Garth Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A former makeup artist for Garth Brooks accused the country music star of sexual assault and battery in a lawsuit filed Thursday.
Brooks, 62, allegedly raped "Jane Roe" in 2019 during a work trip, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. Per the documents, the woman was first hired in 1999 to do the makeup and hairstyling for Brooks' wife, Trisha Yearwood. She began working for Brooks doing makeup and hair in 2017, a few years before the alleged events took place.
Brooks filed a lawsuit allegedly attempting to block the makeup artist's impending suit, according to a complaint obtained by Fox News Digital. In the document, filed under "John Doe," Brooks denied the woman's claims.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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," Brooks said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital on Thursday. 'It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face."
Garth Brooks, seen with wife Trisha Yearwood, was sued for sexual assault on Thursday. (Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Brooks continued, "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' statement concluded.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I trust the system, I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be."
According to the lawsuit, Brooks and the makeup artist traveled to Los Angeles in 2019 for a Grammys tribute to R&B singer Sam Moore, according to the complaint. Instead of having separate rooms, "Jane Roe" claimed only one room was booked for the two of them to share.
"After they arrived, suddenly Brooks appeared in the doorway to the bedroom, completely naked," the complaint read. "He stood there and flexed his muscles. Ms. Roe immediately had a sick feeling in her stomach, knowing she was trapped in the room alone with Brooks, with no one to help and far away from Nashville."
The country music star then allegedly raped her.
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Brooks' former makeup artist claimed the country music star raped her. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for NAMM)
The makeup artist also accused Brooks of openly talking about sex in front of her, exposing his genitals, sharing sexual fantasies with her, texting her explicit messages and physically groping her breasts.
When she began working for Brooks, she was experiencing financial hardship.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It did not take long for Brooks to take advantage of her financial hardship," the lawsuit stated. "Brooks seized what he saw as an opportunity to subject a female employee to a side of Brooks that he conceals from the public. 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."
Brooks denied the woman's claims in a previous filing attempting to stop her lawsuit, according to a report. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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The makeup artist claimed the frequency of these sexually charged actions increased following the alleged rape in 2019.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Brooks increased the frequency of his sexually charged conversations with Ms. Roe, and this included his repeated remarks about having a threesome with his wife in which he implied that Ms. Roe would be the third person, which Brooks’ wife overheard on at least one occasion, Ms. Roe believes," according to the complaint.
Brooks and Yearwood have been married since 2005. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
"Jane Roe" is asking for monetary damages and a trial by jury.
"We applaud our client’s courage in moving forward with her complaint against Garth Brooks," attorneys for "Jane Roe" said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. "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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We are confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions and his efforts to silence our client through the filing of a preemptive complaint in Mississippi was nothing other than an act of desperation and attempted intimidation. We encourage others who may have been victimized to contact us as no survivor should suffer in silence."