British sports agent Jonathan Barnett has been accused in a US lawsuit of sexually assaulting a woman multiple times over a six-year period, leading to a civil complaint alleging severe emotional and physical abuse. Barnett denies the claims, which also implicate his former agency, CAA Stellar, for potential complicity in the alleged misconduct.
High-Profile Sports Agent Jonathan Barnett Faces Severe Allegations in US Lawsuit
High-Profile Sports Agent Jonathan Barnett Faces Severe Allegations in US Lawsuit
Jonathan Barnett, a prominent British sports agent, is accused of numerous rapes and abuse in a lawsuit that raises serious concerns about institutional accountability.
High-profile British sports agent Jonathan Barnett is embroiled in serious legal allegations as a woman has accused him of raping her more than 39 times in a civil lawsuit filed in a US district court in Los Angeles. The woman, referred to in court documents as "Jane Doe," claims that Barnett "trafficked" her from Australia to the UK in 2017 and subjected her to horrific abuse, describing her experience as being kept as a "sex slave" throughout a six-year period.
In the lawsuit, she alleges that Barnett made "repeated threats to her life and the lives of her minor children." The 75-year-old agent, who has a prominent roster of clients that includes notable footballers such as Gareth Bale and Jack Grealish, has categorically denied these allegations, asserting through his lawyers that the claims are "untrue" and "have no basis in reality." He expressed confidence in being completely vindicated once the legal process unfolds.
The civil case, lodged Wednesday, indicates that the two first met in the early 1990s through a professional athlete in London but later reconnected online and eventually in person in 2017. Following this reconnection, the lawsuit states that the woman moved to the UK with her teenage children, with Barnett's agency, CAA Stellar, covering her moving expenses. Upon arrival in the UK, she claims Barnett told her he "owned" her and attacked her in a hotel room.
The lawsuit details a range of alleged abuses, including the imposition of strict rules where Barnett demanded she refer to him as "My Master," a directive accompanied by threats against her life. Additionally, the complaint alleges degrading acts that included forced consumption of bodily waste and being restrained without food or water. The supposed abuse extended across various locations worldwide, including Los Angeles, from 2017 to 2023, with "Jane Doe" stating that she felt compelled to submit to Barnett to protect herself and her children from violence.
The lawsuit also targets the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and CAA Stellar, stating they willfully ignored substantial payments made to the woman despite her lack of connections to their business. The filing mentions that Barnett referred to her as a "slave" in emails from his agency account. According to "Jane Doe's" lawyers, the case highlights "institutional abuse at the highest level," and they are seeking compensation on her behalf.
CAA responded to the allegations by asserting that they took such claims seriously and indicated that they had only learned of the allegations when settlement demands were presented by Doe's lawyers last year. CAA noted that "Jane Doe" has never been an employee or contractor and urged her to contact law enforcement regarding the claims.
