Country superstar Jimmie Allen experienced a whirlwind of career highs between 2016 and 2023, from his debut hit single “Best Shot” catapulting him into the limelight, all the way to his Grammy nominations and multiplatinum status. But all that good luck came to a screeching halt in May 2023 when the singer was named in a damning sexual assault lawsuit that threatened to tarnish his hard-earned name forever.
Following the news of the lawsuit, Allen was dropped from 2023’s CMA Fest performance lineup, and seven months prior was dropped by Wide Open Music, his record label to whom he’d been attached since 2016. In between those momentous occasions, his wife of three years and mother of his three (out of four) children, Alexis Gale filed for a divorce. However, getting removed from a performance lineup, getting dropped from a record label, and getting a divorce is the least of Allen’s problems.
Jimmie Allen has been accused of rape, assault, sexual battery, sex trafficking, and emotional distress in a civil lawsuit
On May 11, 2023, about seven months after he had been quietly dropped by Wide Open Music, Variety published an exposé announcing Allen’s civil lawsuit. According to the suit, Allen’s former, fresh-out-of-college manager, identified in the suit as “Jane Doe,” accused him of assault, sexual battery, sex trafficking, false imprisonment, and emotional distress dating all the way back to March 2021.
In a series of disturbing allegations, Allen’s accuser claims he repeatedly assaulted her over the course of 18 months. During one work trip in which Allen filmed a taping for American Idol, Jane Doe claims she woke up the morning after a work dinner naked in a hotel room with no recollection of the night before, with Allen was laying next to her in bed. When he woke up, he insisted she immediately take Plan B.
“I was disconnected from my body, feeling a sense of panic,” said Jane Doe. “He held me in place. At that point, any physical will was just out the door. I was pretty much paralyzed.”
Jane Doe says the abuse lasted a year and a half and was “impossible to avoid.” During a taping at The Late Late Show With James Corden, he allegedly forced her hand onto his crotch backstage and yelled in her face. While on tour with Carrie Underwood, he allegedly groped her in an open greenroom where anyone could walk in at a moment’s notice. When she expressed fear of being caught, he said “I know, it’s such a turn on.”
Jane Doe recounts one instance in which she dropped off COVID-19 tests at Allen’s house and was forced into sex while Allen’s daughter was in the other room. Durian Luke Bryan’s “Crash My Playa” event, Allen allegedly assaulted her the entire weekend, leaving her “inconsolable” according to a friend. Following that event, Jane Doe says she sought out the suicide prevention helpline.
Jimmie Allen is not the only one being sued
In addition to Allen, Jane Doe is suing her former employer Wide Open Music and its founder Ash Bowers who she claims manipulated and groomed her for Allen’s benefit. They are being sued for gross negligence and “participating in a venture engaged in sex trafficking,” according to Variety.
“Wide Open Music knew that Jimmie Allen regularly engaged in sexual harassment but required Plaintiff to work with him anyway,” Fagen, Jane Does’ attorney, claims in the lawsuit. “Wide Open Music knew that Allen was dangerous, and assigned Plaintiff to be his Day-to-Day Manager anyway. Wide Open Music did not adequately warn or prepare Plaintiff for, or protect her from, the extreme sexual harassment, abuse, grooming, and manipulation she would endure in order to keep her job.” Fagan previously represented the women who came forth with allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
After Allen was dropped from the record label, Jane Doe, too, was fired. According to the lawsuit, she is not the first female employee to be fired from Wide Open Music after speaking out against Allen.
“I have to tell this story because there’s no way I would let my daughter near a situation like this,” she says. “My life has been turned inside out because of Jimmie Allen.” According to Variety, she is “requesting a jury trial and is seeking undisclosed monetary damages.”
Jimmie Allen denies the allegations against him
Allen has denied that he and Jane Doe participated in any sexual activity that was non-consensual, per Variety.
“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. 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.”
In his first Instagram post since the news of his lawsuit became public, Allen addressed his infidelity but not the lawsuit or the allegations.
“I want to publicly apologize to my wife Alexis for humiliating her with my affair. I’m embarrassed that my choices have brought shame on her. That’s something that she did not deserve at all.
“I also want to apologize to my children for being a poor example of a man and a father.
“I’m working on becoming a better person that my kids can be proud of. My goal is to be better than the generation before me.
“This business takes so much from you. It’s full of temptations that can cripple you and ruin everything you’ve built. I’m ashamed that I wasn’t strong enough to withstand them. I will no longer be a victim of my weaknesses.
“I challenge everyone to seek help when they need it. Do not be afraid of your weakness, surround yourself with people that WILL help you.
“Be Blessed.”
No official court date has been confirmed as of this writing.
If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. A list of international crisis resources can be found here.
