Country Singer Jimmie Allen Issues Statement Denying Sexual Assault Claims
Jimmie Allen is responding to multiple lawsuits filed against him in May and June, asserting that he sexually assaulted two women.
In a statement issued to BET.com, the country music singer labeled the allegations “false” and acknowledged the countersuits he filed last week in Tennessee against the women who made the charges.
"As a result of numerous false allegations, I have engaged with a legal team to proceed with an appropriate course of action to protect my reputation and refute these claims that have caused severe damage to my family, mental health, and business,” the Delaware native said in the statement.
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“I’ve taken a couple months before publicly responding to these claims, because I wanted to fix my family first. This situation has caused me great humiliation, and I felt it was necessary to seek professional help,” Allen continued in the statement. “For years, I have dealt with racism and harmful threats solely because I am a Black man in the country music industry, and this situation has only amplified that. As the son and brother of rape victims, and the father of daughters, these false claims are extremely hurtful to me and everyone around me.”
“These false allegations have caused me to lose a vast number of business and endorsement opportunities that I worked extremely hard for. These false allegations have also not only harmed me, but have caused severe financial damage to my band, my team, and their families.”
“As the legal process runs its course, I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name. I am forever thankful for those who have stood by me and helped me share the truth,” he said. “My team and I look forward to putting this behind us and getting back to the music.”
Allen is scheduled to perform a "There's No Place Like Home" concert at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach on September 29. He has not played any gigs in his home state since news hit of the lawsuits.
According to Delaware Online, attorney Elizabeth Fegan, who is representing both accusers, noted in a statement Friday (July 14) that her team reviewed the filings by Allen’s lawyers. In the statement, Fegan said the filings were "what we'd expect – claims that all his encounters with Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 were consensual." Fegan previously brought sex trafficking claims against Harvey Weinstein.
