Garth Brooks accused of sexual assault by former employee in new lawsuit

Country music star Garth Brooks has been accused of sexual assault and battery in a lawsuit filed by a former hair-and-makeup artist, identified as "Jane Roe." The complaint, filed in a California state court on October 3, alleges that Brooks sexually assaulted Roe during a work trip in 2019, among other instances of misconduct. Roe claims she was raped by Brooks in a hotel room in Los Angeles during the trip, where Brooks was taping a Grammy tribute performance. The lawsuit also accuses Brooks of exposing himself and sending sexually explicit messages.

Roe alleges that Brooks first hired her in 2017, though she had worked for his wife, Trisha Yearwood, since 1999. Representatives for Brooks and Yearwood have not responded to CNN's request for comment. According to Roe, the misconduct occurred when she and Brooks traveled together on his private jet to Los Angeles, where he allegedly booked a single hotel suite for both of them. Roe's lawsuit describes feeling "trapped" and recounts an incident where Brooks allegedly walked out of the shower naked and forced her hands onto his genitals.

Brooks had previously filed a lawsuit under the pseudonym “John Doe” in an attempt to block Roe from repeating the allegations. His attorneys described the claims as false and damaging to his reputation. Roe’s lawyers, Douglas H. Wigdor, Jeanne M. Christensen, and Hayley Baker, told CNN that Brooks' efforts to silence their client were "an act of desperation and attempted intimidation."

“We are confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions,” the attorneys said, praising their client's courage for moving forward with the lawsuit.