Barnett Accused of Years of Abuse in Civil Case
Prominent British sports agent Jonathan Barnett faces serious allegations in a US lawsuit, accused of repeatedly raping a woman over 39 times during a six-year period.
Key Allegations in the Lawsuit
In a civil complaint filed at a US district court in Los Angeles, an unnamed woman ("Jane Doe") alleges that Barnett:
- Trafficked her from Australia to the UK in 2017
- Subjected her to torture and kept her as a "sex slave"
- Made repeated threats against her life and her children's lives
Barnett's Response
The 75-year-old agent, known for representing football stars like Gareth Bale and Jack Grealish, strongly denies the allegations:
"These charges have no basis in reality and are untrue. We will vigorously defend this lawsuit through the appropriate legal process. I am looking forward to being entirely vindicated and exonerated."
- Statement from Barnett's lawyers
Background on Barnett's Career
Barnett's professional achievements include:
- Ranked as the world's most powerful sports agent by Forbes in 2019
- Co-founded London-based Stellar Group in 1994
- Sold the agency to ICM Partners in 2020, which later merged with CAA
Detailed Allegations
The court documents reveal disturbing claims:
- The pair first met in the 1990s and reconnected in 2017
- Barnett allegedly told her he "owned" her upon her UK arrival
- Imposed strict rules including referring to him as "My Master"
- Alleged degrading acts including forced consumption of bodily waste
- Claims of being tied up overnight without food or water
Legal Action Against Related Companies
The lawsuit also targets:
- Hollywood talent firm Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
- Sports agency CAA Stellar (Barnett served as executive chairman until 2022)
The complaint alleges these companies failed to investigate substantial payments made to the woman between 2017-2023.
CAA's Response
"While the complaint attempts to connect these allegations to CAA's business, Ms Doe has never been an employee, consultant, or contractor of CAA, ICM, or Stellar... CAA takes any allegations of this nature seriously."
- CAA statement
The plaintiff's lawyers describe this as a case of "institutional abuse at the highest level" and are seeking compensation on her behalf.