Diddy and Garth Brooks lawsuits roil music industry after escaping #MeToo moment

The allegations leveled against Garth Brooks last week were just the latest in a series of major claims to rock the music industry following the arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs on sex crimes charges.

With dozens of lawsuits filed against Diddy in the past year and well over 100 victims expected to file even more lawsuits, echoes of the #MeToo movement appear to be reaching a high note in an industry that was effectively bypassed in 2017.

A #MeToo reckoning may be taking shape in the music industry, but San Diego criminal defense attorney David P. Shapiro said the liability lawsuit predates Diddy’s recent troubles with federal criminal court.

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Sean “Diddy” Combs and Garth Brooks are facing sexual assault charges. (Getty Images)

“A recent example from a few years ago was the cases of another well-known music mogul, R. Kelly, who is currently in prison,” Shapiro told Fox News Digital. The R&B artist was convicted of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges involving sexual abuse of minors and is currently serving a 31-year sentence in a medium-security prison in North Carolina.

“For too long, victims of sexual assault have been exploited and left without a voice. They feared that no one would believe them and that society would always side with their powerful abuser,” Shapiro said. “While the #MeToo movement has provided valuable support to the real victims of sexual abuse and exploitation by powerful men, it has also confirmed concerns about overcorrection and automatically taken the word of a sexual assault complainant, sometimes even to the face of logic and fact.

R. Kelly is serving 31 years in prison on RICO charges for sex trafficking. (Associated Press)

“Such an approach directly contradicts the evidence of our system beyond a reasonable doubt in the criminal courts.”

“For too long, victims of sexual assault have been exploited and left without a voice. They feared that no one would believe them and that society would always side with their powerful abuser.”

— David P. Shapiro, criminal defense attorney

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Diddy was arrested charged with racketeering conspiracy on September 16 and the following day; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper pleaded not guilty hours after an indictment detailing his alleged sex crimes was unsealed.

Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on September 16 in New York on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. (Shayan Asgharnia)

Authorities alleged that Diddy was a criminal enterprise through his companies, which include Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, among others. He used “guns, threats of violence, coercion, and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse” to fulfill his sexual desires, according to the unsealed indictment obtained by Fox News Digital.

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Diddy and his employees allegedly “intimidate, threaten and lure female victims into Combs’ orbit, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.” Combs then allegedly used violence, threats of violence and coercion to induce victims to commit elaborate sexual acts with men. commercial sex workers whom Combs called, among other things, ‘Freak Offs.'” Diddy often provided his victims with IV fluids after “freak offs” to recover from physical exertion and drug use, according to the indictment.

The ‘Last Night’ singer has maintained his innocence: ‘He’s going to fight this with all his energy and all his might and the full trust of his lawyers. And I expect a long battle with a good outcome for Mr. Combs,” his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said outside the courthouse on September 17.

Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, argued for Diddy’s release on bail following his arrest on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Shapiro commented: “While there have always been, and unfortunately always will be, accusations like this against all famous and powerful musicians, Diddy’s case is already on its way to surpassing them all from a publicity standpoint, at least since the accusations against Michael Jackson early 2000s.

“The fact that Diddy’s case will be heard in federal court should preclude recording of the actual trial, should the case progress that far.”

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Garth Brooks was accused of raping his former makeup artist “Jane Roe” during a business trip in 2019, according to court documents filed last week and obtained by Fox News Digital. She also accused Brooks of openly talking about sex in front of her, exposing his genitals, sharing sexual fantasies with her, texting her explicit messages and physically groping her breasts.

The “Friends in Low Places” singer filed a countersuit, allegedly attempting to block her lawsuit, and denied the claims.

A former makeup artist filed a lawsuit against Garth Brooks last week, accusing the country star of rape. (Jesse Grant)

“Over the past two months, I have been endlessly harassed with threats, lies and tragic stories about what my future would be if I did not write a multi-million dollar check,” he said in a statement to Fox. News digital. “It was like waving a loaded gun in my face.”

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When it comes to possible changes in the music industry to protect victims, Shapiro noted the importance of victims coming forward to speak out against alleged accusers.

“The hope is that, regardless of the outcome of the case, the end result of these allegations will change the music industry for the better, similar to the changes that came into effect for the film industry after Harvey Weinstein was outed,” he said. “But time and a jury of 12 will probably have the final say.”

Brooks denied the allegations and claimed the woman was trying to blackmail him for money. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Brand expert Doug Eldridge told Fox News Digital that only time will tell if #MeToo is really happening in the music industry, and that the answer could go either way.

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“On the one hand, it’s too early to tell. On the other hand, the more we learn, the less this seems like an ‘apples to apples’ comparison,” he said. “Weinstein and other Hollywood elites were finally exposed because of the ‘casting couch’ environment that was pervasive (but never addressed) in Hollywood for decades. In contrast, the scope and magnitude of the allegations against Diddy paint a broader, perhaps darker picture: sex trafficking, drugging partygoers, etc.

“Weinstein and other Hollywood elites were finally exposed because of the ‘casting couch’ environment that was pervasive (but never addressed) in Hollywood for decades. In contrast, the scope and magnitude of the allegations against Diddy paint a broader, perhaps darker picture: sex trafficking, drugging partygoers, etc.”

— Doug Eldridge, branding expert

“That said, it is important to remember that at this stage of the legal process these are merely accusations – as it will be several months, if not a year, before the case actually goes to trial – but appears to be on the looming horizon This suggests a completely different ship.”

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