Garth Brooks Responds To Allegations Made Against Him: ‘I Am Not The Man They Have Painted Me To Be’
Brooks asserts that he has been “hassled” with “threats” and “lies,” claiming the accuser is seeking “millions of dollars.”
Photo Courtesy Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks has responded to allegations made against him by his former hair and makeup artist.
In a lawsuit filed with the California Supreme Court in Los Angeles County on Thursday (Oct. 3), a “Jane Roe” claims that Brooks raped and sexually assaulted her.
Brooks responded to those allegations in a statement obtained by Country Now via his spokesperson.
“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,” the statement reads. “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.”
Brooks’ statement continues, “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.”
That same night, he returned to the stage in Las Vegas for his Garth Brooks Plus ONE residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Later, he took to social media to share a photo from the show. In the caption, he wrote: “If there was ever a night that I really needed this, TONIGHT was that night! Thank you for my life!!!!! love, g.”
The lawsuit states that Roe started working for Brooks in 2017 after initially being hired to handle Trisha Yearwood’s hair and makeup in 1999.
The suit alleges that Brooks once raped her during a work trip and accuses him of exposing himself on multiple occasions, sending her explicit text messages, and frequently changing his clothes in front of her, among other allegations.
Roe specifically referenced two incidents, which allegedly took place in 2019.
One incident allegedly took place at Brooks’ home, where she claims he emerged from the shower completely naked, “grabbed her hands and forced them” onto his private parts, all while speaking to her in sexually explicit terms.
In a separate claim from May 2019, the accuser alleges that Brooks raped her in a Los Angeles hotel room while they were in town for a GRAMMY tribute performance. Roe stated they had traveled to the location together on his private jet.
“Usually there were others on Brooks’ private jet but this time, Ms. Roe and Brooks were the only two passengers,” the complaint reads, according to CNN. “Once in Los Angeles at the hotel, Ms. Roe could not believe that Brooks had booked a hotel suite with one bedroom and she did not have a separate room.”
Roe stated that she felt “trapped” in the room and alleges that he raped her during this period.
Prior to Roe’s filing in California, Brooks filed a lawsuit in Mississippi under the name John Doe. Country Now has obtained this suit and it states: “Plaintiff files this lawsuit to obtain relief from Defendant’s ongoing attempted extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress through outrageous conduct including the publication and threatened wider publication of false allegations of sexual misconduct that would irreparably harm Plaintiff’s reputation, family, career and livelihood.”
The suit goes on to claim that Roe worked for Brooks as an independent contractor. She moved to Mississippi in May of 2020 and then found herself experiencing “financial difficulties.” At this point, according to the suit filed by Brooks, Roe asked him for financial assistance.
“Plaintiff complied out of loyalty, friendship, and a desire to improve Defendant’s condition. But Defendant’s demands for financial assistance only increased, with Defendant ultimately asking Plaintiff for salaried employment and medical benefits,” the lawsuit states.
He claims he could not agree to her request and at this point, she “responded with false and outrageous allegations of sexual misconduct she claims occurred years ago.”
In his lawsuit, Brooks demands a trial by jury and is asking for compensatory and punitive damages.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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