Country singer, Milton native Jimmie Allen sued by former manager for rape and sexual abuse

DELAWARE – Country singer and Milton native Jimmie Allen is being sued by a former manager for rape and sexual abuse.

The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in Tennessee federal court.

According to court documents, the alleged incidents took place when the Plaintiff, identified as “Jane Doe”, worked for Wide Open Music as a day-to-day artist manager, assigned to Jimmie Allen. Starting in May 2020, during photoshoots, public appearances, and performances, Allen reportedly sexually harassed Doe openly and publicly by making comments about her status as a single female, her innocence, and how hot she looked. He allegedly did so from the stage, in front of the production crew and public audiences. She claims he also would ask personal sexual questions during debriefings after performances, such as whether she was a virgin.

In March 2021, after filming an American Idol episode in which Allen appeared, Allen allegedly sexually assaulted Doe while she was incapacitated and incapable of giving consent. Despite Doe’s subsequent attempts to decline Allen’s sexual abuse and her outward expressions of extreme discomfort, Allen reportedly manipulated and used his power over her job to sexually harass and abuse her over the course of the next 18 months.

WOM and Allen’s Principal Manager, Ash Bowers, were reportedly aware of Allen’s history and that it was likely happening to Doe. She expressed that she was uncomfortable working with Allen, and at least one other third party reported Allen’s inappropriate behavior with Doe to WOM and Bowers, however, no investigation was conducted, and it was made clear to Doe that she would lose her job if she complained.

By October 2022, Doe was severely depressed and anxious and had reportedly considered suicide as a result of Allen’s conduct. On October 4, 2022, Doe sat down with Bowers and disclosed that she had been raped and sexually abused, told him that she could not put up with Allen’s abuse any longer, and asked that she be reassigned. Instead, WOM allegedly put Doe on leave and then fired her on October 26, 2022.

Doe is suing Allen for sex trafficking and WOM and Bowers for participation in a venture engaged in sex trafficking.

Allen was scheduled to give Delaware State University’s 2023 Undergraduate Commencement Address Friday morning. It was announced Thursday evening that Allen had canceled and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester would instead address the graduates.