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BBR Music Group has suspended country music superstar Jimmie Allen after news of a rape and sexual assault lawsuit against the singer broke.
The Nashville-based record label issued a statement late Thursday afternoon, May 11, after news of the lawsuit broke. A member of Allen’s day team filed the lawsuit, accusing him of rape and sexual assault over the course of approximately 18 months.
“In light of today’s allegations against Jimmie Allen, BBR Music Group has decided to cease all activities with him effective immediately,” he said opinion reads. The woman chose not to identify herself and has filed a lawsuit against Allen in civil court in Tennessee. She alleges patterns of sexual abuse and intimidation occurred while working with the singer. She is also suing Allen’s former manager Ash Bowers and his company Wide Open Music in this case.
Variety reports that the woman has accused Allen of sexual assault, assault, false imprisonment, sex trafficking and emotional distress. She says Wide Open Music contributed to these actions, alleging gross negligence and involvement in sex trafficking and more. She says Wide Open Music knew of Allen’s behavior when the company hired her to work and travel with him.
Allen denied the allegations set out in the lawsuit, stating that he had a consensual sexual relationship with Jane Doe. Wide Open Music say they stopped working with Allen after the woman told them her story and have since quit artist management together.
“We want to show that Wide Open Music knew Allen had a history of questionable behavior toward women, but did nothing to protect our client when she started her first professional job out of college,” said Elizabeth Fegan, founding partner of the Law firm representing the Jane Doe. “The executives at WOM promised our client mentoring and leadership in a new role, but instead Allen was offered it because of his robberies.”
So was Jimmie Allen REMOVED from this year’s CMA Fest lineup, confirmed by a representative of the Country Music Association. Allen was scheduled to play at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on June 11 alongside a cast of Ashley McBryde, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and Tim McGraw.