A lawsuit has been filed in New York supreme court on Wednesday by a former model, accusing Axl Rose, the frontman of Guns N’ Roses, of committing a violent sexual assault against her 30 years ago.
Sheila Kennedy, a former model for Penthouse magazine, claims that Rose physically attacked her in his hotel room in New York the night they first met in 1989. At the time, Kennedy was approximately 26 years old and Rose was 27. As reported by Rolling Stone, the lawsuit states that Kennedy and Rose first crossed paths at a nightclub, where he invited her to a gathering in his hotel room. However, Kennedy’s friend was not allowed to join as Rose deemed her “not attractive enough.” Kennedy then apologized to her friend and went to Rose’s room with future MTV host Riki Rachtman.
Upon returning to the room, the lawsuit claims that Rose provided the guests with cocaine and alcohol. While Kennedy was in the bathroom, Rose reportedly stood outside the door. When she came out, he pushed her against the wall and kissed her.
The lawsuit states that Kennedy was physically drawn to Rose and was not bothered by their interaction. She was willing to engage in sexual activity with him if the situation developed, but she firmly denies giving consent for the aggressive encounter that occurred later in the night.
Kennedy stated that she left the party room after Rose engaged in sexual activity with another model who seemed to be causing them pain, which made Kennedy feel uncomfortable. She then heard the sound of breaking glass and Rose yelling at the model. Rachtman reportedly warned Kennedy that the situation was going to escalate.
According to Kennedy, Rose proceeded to physically assault Rachtman by forcibly pushing her to the ground and dragging her, resulting in bleeding. After bringing her into Rachtman’s room, Rose reportedly threw her onto the bed and then restrained her by tying her hands behind her back using pantyhose.
The lawsuit claims that Rose was in a state of sexual rage and forcibly penetrated Kennedy.
According to the lawsuit, Kennedy was treated as an object solely for the purpose of satisfying the defendant’s sexual desires. She did not give consent and felt overpowered.
Kennedy claims to have experienced symptoms resembling PTSD following the purported assault. She also states that she has struggled with anxiety and depression since the incident, which has negatively impacted her professional life. She is seeking unspecified compensation from the court for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and gender-based violence.
In her 2016 autobiography No One’s Pet and the 2021 documentary Look Away, Kennedy disclosed information about the reported assault. The incident occurred within the music industry and her lawsuit also mentions other accusations of physical abuse against Rose, including claims from his ex-partners Erin Everly and Stephanie Seymour. Everly previously took legal action against Rose for abuse in a civil court case in Los Angeles in 1994, which was later resolved outside of court.
Kennedy has filed a lawsuit under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which has temporarily lifted the time limit for bringing civil claims of sexual misconduct in the music industry. This law has led to a number of women coming forward with civil suits against well-known figures in the industry, such as Steven Tyler, LA Reid, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Neil Portnow, and Ahmet Ertegun. The deadline for filing under the Adult Survivors Act will end at midnight on Wednesday.
The Guardian has contacted Rose’s representative for a statement.
Source: theguardian.com
