"... Like having a loaded gun waved in my face" — Garth Brooks issues statement on assault allegations, claims hush money ordeal 

Country music singer and songwriter Garth Brooks spoke on the s*xual misconduct allegations he is facing in the wake of a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on October 3 by an anonymous woman.

Disclaimer: This article has references to s*xual assault, abuse, r*pe, and more that may upset the readers. Discretion is advised.

The 62-year-old claimed that he has been facing “threats, lies” for the last two months from the plaintiff, who reportedly asked him to “write a check.”

“It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face. 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 told the press on Thursday.

Garth further shared how he filed a lawsuit in September in Mississippi to combat the “extortion and defamation of character,” adding that he chose to do it anonymously “for the sake of families on both sides.”

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Exploring the lawsuit against Garth Brooks

Earlier this week, an unnamed woman who is now being referred to as Jane Roe sued Garth Brooks for alleged s*xual assault, r*pe, and battery. The plaintiff, who has been identified as a former celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist, has accused Brooks of r*pe in a Los Angeles hotel room in May 2019.

"[The defendant] 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 s*xual gratification when he wants it, and using a female employee to get it, is fair game," the lawsuit claimed.

The court documents further alleged that the Grammy winner exposed the plaintiff to “other appalling s*xual conduct” around the same time, for instance asking her to reportedly perform “oral s*x” on him at his house, having come out of the shower, n*ked.

It also mentioned that the alleged victim has not only worked for Garth Brooks since 2017 but also for his wife and country musician Trisha Yearwood since 1999. However, five years ago, following the two other alleged incidents, Brooks reportedly offered to have “threesomes” with the plaintiff and his wife. The lawsuit even claimed that on at least one occasion, Yearwood heard Brooks saying this to the alleged victim.

Notably, the 27-page lawsuit was filed under California's S*xual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which permits s*xual abuse accusations to be revived that otherwise would be prohibited by the statute of limitations. In the wake of the suit, the plaintiff’s legal team comprising Douglas H. Wigdor, Jeanne M. Christensen, and Hayley Baker told USA Today how they "applaud our client's courage in moving forward with her complaints against Garth Brooks."

"The complaint filed today demonstrates that s*xual 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,” they shared.

The attorneys further continued:

"We are confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions and his efforts to silence our client through the filing of a pre-emptive 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."

The suit has asked for unspecified damages for the alleged pain and trauma caused to the plaintiff alongside a jury trial.

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Garth Brooks issues statement amid s*xual assault lawsuit

In the aftermath of the s*xual misconduct lawsuit, Garth Brooks issued a statement, sharing that he doesn’t “fear the truth” and was “not the man they have painted me to be.” He also mentioned that he trusts “the system.”

“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,” he shared.

He felt that the entire ordeal had felt like having a “loaded gun” pointed at his face and maintained his innocence against the allegations.

"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," the 'No Fences' singer concluded.

Meanwhile, Garth Brooks confirmed that on September 13 he filed a suit in Mississippi Federal Court to prevent the allegations from becoming public and the “ongoing attempted extortion.” He also denied the accusations of any physical or s*xual abuse that might come up, adding they "would irreparably harm plaintiff’s reputation, family, career and livelihood."

The filing came on the same day the country music star announced the wrap-up of his ongoing Las Vegas residency.