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Jimmie Allen’s former manager is accusing the country music star of sexually assaulting her in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday.
The unnamed plaintiff says that Allen used his power over her to sexually abuse and harass her while she was his day-to-day manager from 2020 to 2022. The plaintiff says her boss, Wide Open Music founder Ash Bowers, knew about the alleged abuse and did not take any action to protect her.
One of the alleged incidents occurred after a March 2021 taping of an “American Idol” episode that Allen appeared in. The plaintiff said that Allen raped her in the hotel room while she was incapacitated.
The plaintiff claimed Allen made it clear that her job depended on her staying silent.
“Allen’s behavior is a text-book example of grooming and coercion,” said Elizabeth Fegan, attorney for the plaintiff. “He systematically broke this woman’s will by forcing her to believe she had no control over the situation. He made her believe that if she stood up for herself, he would ensure she would never work in the industry again, or worse.”
The abuse continued until about September 2022, the plaintiff claims, and she was terminated a month later.
Through a statement provided by his attorney, Allen confirmed that he and the plaintiff had a sexual relationship but claimed that it was consensual.
“It is deeply troubling and hurtful that someone I counted as one of my closest friends, colleagues and confidants would make allegations that have no truth to them whatsoever,” Allen’s statement reads. “I acknowledge that we had a sexual relationship — one that lasted for nearly two years. During that time she never once accused me of any wrongdoing, and she spoke of our relationship and friendship as being something she wanted to continue indefinitely. Only after things ended between us, did she hire a lawyer to reach out and ask for money, which leads me to question her motives. The simple fact is, her accusations are not only false, but also extremely damaging. I’ve worked incredibly hard to build my career, and I intend to mount a vigorous defense to her claims and take all other legal action necessary to protect my reputation.”
Allen’s label BBR Music Group has suspended all activity with him effective immediately, the group announced on its website Thursday. United Talent Agency (UTA) has also suspended its representation of Allen.
“We have suspended our representation of Jimmie Allen due to the recent allegations against him, which we take seriously,” a UTA spokesperson told The Tennessean on Friday.
CMA Fest on Thursday said it removed Allen from its performer lineup, per CMA Vice President of Communications Catharine McNelly.
The lawsuit comes weeks after Allen and his wife Alexis Marie Allen announced their separation. Alexis Marie Allen made the announcement in an Instagram post on April 21, adding that the two are expecting another child. They currently have two children together.
“After much thought and reflection in recent months, Jimmie & I have made the decision to separate,” the post reads. “As we navigate this life change, we can also share that we will be welcoming another child together later this year. Our number one priority is and always will be ensuring that our children are healthy, happy and loved, and we remain committed to co-parenting with love and respect for one another. In light of our growing family, we respectfully request privacy during this time.”
Allen and Alexis Marie Allen filed for divorce in Williamson County on April 28 and May 1, respectively.
Allen, 37, has lived in Nashville for most of his adult life. He first broke into the music industry after signing a publishing deal with Wide Open Music in 2016. He released his first official single, “Best Shot,” in 2018. In 2021, he won the Country Music Association’s award for New Artist of the Year and the Academy of Country Music’s award for New Male Artist of the Year.
The plaintiff says she disclosed details of the abuse to Bowers in a pair of meetings in early October 2022. Bowers Bowers told The Tennessean in an email that that was the first time he heard about Allen’s alleged abuse and that Wide Open Music immediately terminated its relationship with Allen after she made the allegations.
“First, any assertion that she ever raised the existence of a sexual or physical relationship between Mr. Allen and her (or that Wide Open Music or I was aware of any such relationship) before October 4, 2022 is patently and objectively false,” Bowers wrote.
Bowers also disputed the plaintiff’s claim that she was fired out of retaliation.
“Once WOM no longer managed Mr. Allen, that role (Allen’s day-to-day manager) was gone and, furthermore, WOM has transitioned out of artist management completely to development and publishing. Accordingly, any claim that our professional relationship with her ended due to retaliation is also false,” Bowers wrote.
The plaintiff is suing Allen, Bowers and Wide Open Music in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
She brings six counts against Allen, including sex trafficking, battery, assault, false imprisonment, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. She also brings six counts against Wide Open Music and Bowers: participation in a sex trafficking venture, negligent failure to warn, negligence, gross negligence and the emotional distress charges.
Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanMealins.
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