Garth Brooks has addressed the "elephant in the room" and admitted he's unlikely to be able to speak about the rape allegations made against him for "two years".
The 62-year-old country star is the subject of a sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed by his former hairstylist, known anonymously as Jane Roe, who alleged she was raped during a 2019 work trip with the 'River' singer, and during a live fan chat on Monday (07.10.24), he acknowledged the situation but explained he isn't able to talk about it in depth.
Speaking on his 'Inside Studio G' fan chat on TalkShopLive, he said: “A lot’s happened in the last two weeks. Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we?
“This thing is on, it’s gonna happen, and people are telling me it could be up to two years. OK? So, my suggestion is, well, take a deep breath, we all just kind of settle in and let’s hold hands and take the trip together, because it is something that you cannot talk about. That’s all we can say about it.
Garth noted some people may have only tuned in to hear him talk about the situation so suggested they go elsewhere.
Before turning talk to his Las Vegas residency and humanitarian work, he said: “For those who joined us tonight to hear about that, I bid you a wonderful rest of your night, ’cause that’s the last we can say about it.”
The 'Much Too Young' hitmaker previously issued a statement in which he claimed his accuser had spent months issuing "threats and lies" on what she would do if he didn't give her "many millions of dollars".
He said in a statement: "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 cheque 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. 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."
The 'Unanswered Prayers' singer does "not fear the truth" and has faith in the legal system that he will be exonerated.
He added: “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.”
The lawsuit accused the country legend of having used his power as her employer to get the “sexual gratification” he “believes he is entitled to,” and that he raped his accuser in a hotel suite in May 2019 while on a business trip to Los Angeles, before making another attempt to force himself on her in October that year.
Garth - who has been married to Trisha Yearwood since 2005 but has Taylor,31, August, 29, and Allie, 27, with his first wife Sandy Mahl - had previously anonymously filed a lawsuit trying to shut down the allegations.
