A new lawsuit has been raised against former Def Jam president Kevin Liles, accusing him of sexual assault.
The suit was filed in Manhattan on Thursday morning (February 27), and sees an anonymous Jane Doe plaintiff claim that Liles sexually assaulted her while she was working as his executive assistant.
The alleged incidents took place more than 20 years ago, and the lawsuit is against the music executive, as well as Universal Music Group and Def Jam Records.
According to the filing (via Rolling Stone), Doe was hired in 1999 and allegedly faced numerous instances of sexual harassment from Liles between the period of 2000 and 2002 – the time when he was acting as her superior.
Alongside claims of groping, the woman also accuses Liles of making “sexually inappropriate comments and advances” in 2002, as well as “physically forc[ing] himself on top of [Jane Doe] where he began to sexually assault and ultimately rape her despite her continued protests.”
Liles has since shared a statement, denying the allegations and calling them “outrageous”. UMG has not yet publicly responded to the accusations.
“I absolutely deny the outrageous claims reported in the press this evening,” he told Rolling Stone and Variety. “After nearly 40 years of service to our culture, I’ve intentionally built a reputation for doing things the right way, treating people the right way, and empowering women. It is a shameful reality that these lies spread so freely.”
“My attorneys and I will fully clear my name, and when we are successful, this anonymous accuser and her attorney will face a defamation lawsuit and every other available legal consequence.”
Doe was able to file the claim due to a two-year lookback window, enacted in New York City in 2000, which allows people to file lawsuits related to gender-motivated violence, even after the original statute of limitations is up.
With the suit, the plaintiff is claiming that both UMG and Def Jam should be held liable for instances of alleged abuse because they “enabled, permitted, directed, controlled, approved, managed, operated and ratified the manner in which Liles engaged with employees.”
She also requests for compensatory and punitive damages to be decided at trial according to the RS report.
Liles served as President of Def Jam and EVP of Island Def Jam up until 2004. After his time as president at Def Jam, he co-founded 300 Entertainment with Lyor Cohen. The label’s artists would include Fetty Wap, Mary J. Blige, Young Thug and more.
He joined Warner Music in 2022 after the company acquired 300 Entertainment, and he resigned from his position as chairman and CEO late last year.
For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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