A lawsuit was filed on Wednesday against music industry veteran Jimmy Iovine, accusing him of sexual abuse. The complaint, lodged in a New York state court in Manhattan by a woman identified only as “Jane Doe,” alleges incidents of sexual abuse, forced touching, and enduring sexual harassment and subsequent retaliation dating back to August 2007.
In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for Iovine expressed surprise and confusion regarding the claim. They stated, “This inquiry is the first we’ve heard of this matter. No one has ever made a claim like this against Jimmy Iovine, nor have we been contacted or made aware of any complaint by anyone, including this unknown plaintiff prior to now.”
The woman is seeking unspecified damages for assault and battery under the Adult Survivors Act, a special law in New York state that enables individuals to sue their alleged abusers, even if the statutes of limitations have expired. Her attorney, Douglas Wigdor, declined to provide further comment.
Notably, the law is set to expire after the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday.
Iovine, known for co-founding Interscope Records—an influential label in West Coast hip hop, which is now part of Universal Music Group—later ventured into Beats Electronics in 2006, alongside producer Dr. Dre. This company was eventually acquired by Apple in 2014 for a staggering $3 billion.
The lawsuit against Iovine is not an isolated case under this law. Other prominent figures who have faced legal action under similar circumstances include actors Russell Brand and Bill Cosby, former movie producer Harvey Weinstein, former president Donald Trump, and hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, whose case was settled after a single day.
Adding to the list, Axl Rose, the former lead singer of Guns N’ Roses, was sued under the same law on Wednesday by Sheila Kennedy, an actress and former Penthouse Pet of the Year, citing an alleged assault from 1989.
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