Garth Brooks claims he was “harassed” for “millions” before sexual assault lawsuit

Garth Brooks claimed he was “harassed for millions of dollars” before being sued for sexual assault and rape by an alleged ex-employee.

“For the past two months, I have been endlessly plagued with threats, lies and tragic stories about what my future would be if I did not write a multi-million dollar check,” the 62-year-old country music icon said in one statement to Page Six on Thursday.

“It was like a loaded gun was being shoved in my face,” he continued. “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money.”

“In my opinion, that means I'm admitting to behavior that I'm incapable of – ugly acts that no human being should ever do to another.”

Brooks also confirmed that he filed a lawsuit nearly a month ago against the woman who accused him of rape “to speak out against extortion and defamation of character.”

He said he did so anonymously “for the benefit of the families on both sides.”

“I want to play music tonight. I want to continue our good deeds in the future,” he continued.

“It breaks my heart that these wonderful things are now in question. I trust the system, I’m not afraid of the truth and I’m not the man they made me out to be.”

In a complaint obtained by CNN on Thursday, the “Friends in Low Places” singer was accused of sexual assault and battery by a woman – named “Jane Roe” – who claimed to be his former hairdresser and makeup artist.

She claimed Brooks raped her in 2019 while she was employed by him. In addition, she alleged that he repeatedly showed her his genitals, often changed clothes in front of her, constantly talked to her about sexual intercourse and his sexual fantasies, and sent her sexually explicit text messages.

Roe further claimed that Brooks made “repeated comments” about having “a threesome” with his wife Trisha Yearwood, whom he married in 2005.

As Brooks noted in his statement to Page Six, he filed a statement of claim to prevent the “fabricated allegations” from coming to light.

In the Sept. 13 filing, obtained Thursday by Page Six, he asked a court to indict Roe's “ongoing attempted extortion, defamation, false invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress through outrageous conduct, including publication.” “and threatened wider publication of false allegations of sexual misconduct that would cause irreparable harm to the plaintiff’s reputation, family, career and livelihood.”

Before the country singer's statement on the lawsuit, Roe's attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor, Jeanne M. Christensen and Hayley Baker told CNN they were “confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions.”

“We applaud our client’s courage in moving forward with her complaint against Garth Brooks,” they added.

“The complaint filed today shows that sexual predators exist not only in corporate America, Hollywood, and the rap and rock and roll industries, but also in the world of country music.”

In response to Brooks' public denial of the allegations, Page Six reached out to attorneys for further comment.

Yearwood, 60, has not spoken publicly about the lawsuit. Her rep did not immediately respond to Page Six's request for comment.

She and Brooks, who have been married for almost 20 years, have not been shy about showing their love.

Just last year, Brooks told Us Weekly about their date nights: “It's just about being together. This is it.”

“Just being in the same room with a woman who breathes the same air. We don’t have to do anything together, but just knowing she’s there (is nice),” he added.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.