Ex-Penthouse Model Files Lawsuit Against Axl Rose for Alleged 1989 Rape

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Sheila Kennedy, a former model for Penthouse magazine, has initiated legal action against Axl Rose, the lead vocalist of Guns N’ Roses, alleging that he sexually assaulted her in a New York City hotel in 1989. The incident, she claims, resulted in long-term anxiety, depression, and professional setbacks.

The lawsuit, lodged in the State Supreme Court in Manhattan by Kennedy, now 61, seeks unspecified damages for the physical and emotional trauma she endured, including pain, suffering, humiliation, and economic losses.

Filed under the Adult Survivors Act in New York, a temporary legislation that permits adults to pursue legal action for assaults that occurred in the past, the lawsuit targets 61-year-old Rose, a resident of Malibu, California. The act’s validity ends after Thursday.

Rose’s attorney, Alan S. Gutman, issued a statement dismissing the allegations as fictional and noting their last-minute filing before the legal deadline. He stated that Rose has no memory of meeting Kennedy or being aware of these allegations until now, expressing confidence in a favorable resolution for his client.

Kennedy, from Palm Springs, California, claims in her lawsuit that she encountered Rose in a Manhattan nightclub in February 1989. Following an invitation to his hotel suite party, Kennedy alleges witnessing Rose’s sexual encounter with another model, which escalated to Rose evicting the woman from the suite. Kennedy then describes being assaulted by Rose, who forcefully tied her hands and disregarded her consent.

The lawsuit details the enduring impact of the assault on Kennedy, citing lifelong emotional, physical, psychological, and financial hardships, including symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress disorder triggered by Rose’s name or Guns N’ Roses’ music. The attack purportedly led to her avoidance of social situations crucial for her career, exacerbating her anxiety and depression.

Previously, Kennedy has publicly spoken about these allegations against Rose, including in her 2016 memoir “No One’s Pet” and the 2021 documentary “Look Away,” which focuses on sexual abuse in the music industry.

The Big Big News typically refrains from naming individuals claiming sexual abuse unless they have publicly come forward, as Kennedy has.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Axl Rose Lawsuit

More about Axl Rose Lawsuit

• Sheila Kennedy’s 2016 Memoir
• Adult Survivors Act Information
• Documentary “Look Away”
• Guns N’ Roses Official Website
• New York State Supreme Court