Garth Brooks is still facing a sexual assault lawsuit despite his efforts to have the case dismissed.
Brooks, 62, filed a motion in November requesting a dismissal of the sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed against him by a woman identified as Jane Roe. The country singer’s request was “denied with prejudice” on Monday, December 16, Fox News reported. The denial is temporary, pending the outcome of Brooks’ lawsuit filed against Roe in September.
Brooks filed his lawsuit against Roe preemptively, one month before the sexual assault allegations leveled against him came to light. He identified himself as “John Doe” in the filing, claiming that his accuser was attempting to extort and defame him with “false allegations” that would “irreparably harm” his reputation.
In the suit, Brooks claimed that Roe, who previously worked as his hairstylist and makeup artist, “responded with false and outrageous allegations of sexual misconduct” after he refused to comply with her demands for money, including a salary and medical benefits.
Roe filed her lawsuit in October, accusing Brooks of raping her during a 2019 work trip, sending her sexually explicit text messages, repeatedly exposing his genitals and buttocks to her and discussing his sexual fantasies in front of her. She further claimed that Brooks made “repeated remarks” about “having a threesome” with her and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, whom he married in 2005.
Brooks vehemently denied the allegations in a statement to Us Weekly at the time.
“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,” he said. “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.”
After Brooks filed to dismiss Roe’s lawsuit, Rose’s attorney Jeanne M. Christensen condemned the legal action in a statement to Deadline.
“This is just more of the same bullying and intimidation Garth Brooks has used from the moment he learned our client intended to hold him accountable,” Christensen said. “We look forward to getting before a jury and reaching the merits of this case.”
As Brooks’ legal drama continues, Yearwood, 60, has stood by him.
“Trisha completely believes Garth and has complete faith that the allegations are false,” a source told Us in October. “She is supporting him 100 percent.”
Despite her certainty, the lawsuit has been difficult for Yearwood.
“It’s all really upsetting to Trisha,” a second source told Us. “They are a very tight-knit family, so this has been devastating to them. … [Trisha] and the girls hope the truth will prevail in court.”
Yearwood is a devoted stepmother to Brooks’ three daughters with ex-wife Sandy Mahl: Taylor, 32, August, 30, and Allie, 28.