Garth Brooks files counter lawsuit, alleging extortion and defamation from former employee

'Friends in Low Places' country singer Garth Brooks released his amended countersuit against his former hair and makeup artist who alleged that Brooks raped her along with multiple other forms of sexual misconduct in 2019. When announcing her lawsuit against Brooks earlier this month, her legal team used the pseudonym Jane Roe instead of her real name to protect her identity.

After Roe’s lawsuit was released, Brooks released a statement saying in part:

“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. 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.”

On Thursday, Brooks outed Jane Roe's identity, using her real name in his complaint. FOX 17 News has chosen not to print her real name.

Brooks' complaint includes accusations of attempted extortion (allegedly in the millions), defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The countersuit claims that after Roe confided in Brooks, telling him that she was in financial difficulties, she was given assistance, a similar story to Roe’s in her lawsuit. But Brooks' complaint goes on to say that Roe allegedly demanded full-time, salaried employment and medical benefits. When Brooks refused to accommodate her requests, Roe allegedly made false allegations regarding his sexual misconduct in order to make financial gains.

Roe’s lawyers filed an emergency motion shortly after the complaint was released. They are demanding sanctions against Brooks and are requesting to seal his complaint that uses their client’s name. They accused Brooks of “unlawfully and intentionally disclosing the identity of a rape victim without her consent.”

During a Facebook livestream on Monday, Brooks made a statement regarding the lawsuits, or what he calls “the elephant in the room":

“This thing is on. It’s going to happen, and people are telling me it could be up to two years, okay? So my suggestion is we all take a deep breath, we all just kind of settle in, and let’s hold hands and take the trip together. Okay?”

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