A woman identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against hip hop music legend Kevin Liles, alleging she was raped while working for the music executive.
Court documents filed in New York Supreme Court said the woman began working as the general manager’s executive assistant in 1999, according to Variety. She claimed she was subjected to repeated instances of sexual harassment from Liles, which escalated from 2000 to 2002. She alleged he made “derogatory and degrading comments based on her gender regarding her body and appearance.”
Doe’s legal filing alleged Liles would press himself against her breasts without consent and grab her behind while she was at work. She said she rejected his sexual advances in 2002 but claimed that he didn’t stop. Doe alleged the situation escalated and Liles sexually assaulted and raped her.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 08: In this image released on October 15, 2024, Kevin Liles, Co-founder & CEO, 300 Entertainment attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2024 at Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub on October 08, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET)
Liles, a veteran in the music industry, served as President of Def Jam and Executive Vice President of Island Def Jam when the alleged assault occurred.
Universal Music Group, Def Jam and Liles were listed as defendants in the lawsuit. Doe sued using the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law.
The suit claimed that the company and music label “not only knew or should have known” of the then-executive’s “propensity to commit the aforementioned crimes of violence” but additionally enabled his behavior toward employees, according to Variety.
Doe’s lawyer, Lucas B. Franken, partner at Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC, issued a statement to Variety. “Based on the violent and egregious conduct, we expect that others were also abused, and we hope that they can also come forward to share their experiences and pursue justice.”
Liles is credited with helping to craft the careers of Young Thug, Gunna, Megan Thee Stallion and others. He oversaw a number of prominent clients over the years, including Mariah Carey and D’Angelo.
Liles responded to the lawsuit in a statement shared with Variety.
“I absolutely deny the outrageous claims reported in the press this evening. I wish I could share a more detailed response to this slander, but this is the first I’ve heard of this claim and the anonymous accuser’s attorney shared the lawsuit with gossip influencers and media outlets before it was even posted by the court, so my attorneys and I have not seen the actual lawsuit,” he said.
He continued to push back on the allegations made against him.
“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,” Liles said, according to Variety.
“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. These allegations will not derail my mission to be of service to our community, and focus on the greater good and greater God,” he continued. (RELATED: Accused Sex Traffickers Andrew And Tristan Tate Reportedly Return To US)
Liles was with Def Jam Records until 2004. He co-founded the music label 300 Entertainment in 2012 with Lyor Cohen, previously Warner’s recorded music chief. The experienced executive joined Warner in 2022 after the company acquired his label and vacated the post of chairman and CEO of Warner Music’s 300 Elektra Entertainment in September.
