Axl Rose settles sexual assault lawsuit, doubles down on defense: ‘There was no assault’

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As a seasoned movie reviewer who has seen more than a few rock stars fall from grace, I must say that the latest chapter in Axl Rose’s life feels like a scene straight out of a Hollywood drama. The allegations against him by Sheila Kennedy are troubling to say the least, and it’s always disheartening when someone who has brought joy to millions through their music finds themselves embroiled in such controversies.

Axl Rose, the frontman of Guns N’ Roses, is no longer involved with a legal dispute stemming from allegations made against him in the 1980s for sexual misconduct towards a model.

62-year-old rock legend from “Sweet Child O’ Mine” admitted charges on Wednesday by model Sheila Kennedy, who claimed he misused his fame to exploit, dominate, and sexually assault her violently back in 1989. Kennedy, an actress and once featured model for Penthouse, filed the lawsuit against him last November in New York.

On Thursday, the Grammy-nominated artist firmly reiterated his denial of the accusations made in Kennedy’s lawsuit.

“There was no assault,” he added.

Music

In simpler terms, a model claims that Axl Rose, from the band Guns N’ Roses, was accused of sexually assaulting her at a hotel in New York City back in 1989. This allegation has led to a lawsuit against him.

In a statement issued on Thursday to The Times, the lawyer for the musician, E. Danya Perry, expressed that their client had endured significant hardship due to the legal action. She further mentioned that the singer can now focus on moving forward with their life.

A legal representative for Kennedy did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

In her court case, Kennedy asserted that she encountered Rose in 1989 at a New York City nightclub and was invited to a party at his hotel room. Kennedy stated that she ended up in bed with the musician, one of his friends, and another model. However, the situation became awkward when Rose is said to have started forcefully kissing and having sex with the other model, an act that seemed painful and uncomfortable for the model, as stated in the lawsuit.

Kennedy further described another reported occurrence from that evening: Rose allegedly grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back towards his bedroom across the suite. Additionally, she claimed that the musician-composer tied her hands together and forced himself upon her anally without using a condom.

Entertainment & Arts

On Thursday, former Marvel actor Jonathan Majors and his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, mutually decided to drop her civil lawsuit permanently, as indicated by court records.

In the lawsuit filed in November 2023, it’s stated that Kennedy did not give her approval and felt powerless. She felt trapped with no option to leave and was forced to comply instead.

Kennedy filed a lawsuit against Rose, accusing her of assault, battery, causing severe emotional distress, and violence motivated by gender. Interestingly, over three decades ago, Rose had previously faced similar allegations in a 1994 lawsuit from her former wife, Erin Everly, which ultimately ended with an out-of-court settlement.

At the time of her lawsuit, Kennedy requested an undetermined sum for compensatory damages, including legal costs. Additionally, she asked for a trial by jury. Due to New York’s Adult Survivors Act, Kennedy was granted the ability to sue Rose even though the statute of limitations had expired, as the act provided a one-year “lookback window” during which adults who claim they were sexually abused could bring forth their cases.

Last November, Rose was one of several prominent musicians who encountered legal disputes under the now-expired New York law. Among others, Neil Portnow (formerly of the Recording Academy), L.A. Reid (ex-head of Arista and Epic Records), Steven Tyler from Aerosmith, and music entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs were all accused of sexual misconduct in distinct lawsuits filed the previous year.

California

For a third time, Judge denies the effort by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ legal team to secure his release from prison on bail.

This week, Rose’s denial mirrors sentiments expressed last year by his attorney Alan Gutman. In essence, he stated that “this alleged incident never took place,” as reported in a 2023 statement to The Times, expressing concerns over the timing of Kennedy’s accusations, which he deemed “unfounded.

According to Gutman, Mr. Rose can’t remember ever encountering or conversing with the person named Kennedy, and he had no knowledge of these supposed accusations until now. He’s quite certain that this matter will end up being decided in his favor.

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2024-12-06 02:43