Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose has been sued for sexual assault by a former model, according to a court filing reported by US media and seen by AFP. The alleged incident took place in 1989, and the victim’s lawyers argue that the lawsuit is timely under the N.Y. Adult Survivors Act, which allows victims of sexual abuse to file civil suits beyond the statute of limitations. The law is set to expire at midnight on Thursday.
The complaint, filed by actress and model Sheila Kennedy, accuses Axl Rose, who is now 61, of sexually assaulting her without her consent. The lawsuit claims that Rose used his fame and power in the music industry to gain access to and assault Kennedy. Axl Rose has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.
The incident is said to have occurred in a New York hotel room after the pair met at a nightclub. Kennedy’s lawyers state that she believed Rose would physically harm her if she resisted or tried to push him away, so she felt forced to comply. The lawsuit emphasizes the lifelong impacts, including emotional, physical, psychological, and financial consequences, that the assault had on Kennedy’s life.
This lawsuit comes shortly after R&B singer Cassie filed a rape complaint against rapper Sean Combs under the Adult Survivors Act. The parties involved in that case have since reached a settlement, the terms of which have not been disclosed.
Guns N’ Roses, known for hits like “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” rose to fame in the late 1980s but faced internal conflicts that led to the split between Axl Rose and guitarist Slash in 1993. The band has not made a public statement regarding the current lawsuit.
(Note: This article has been adapted from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff.)