Former Model Accuses Axl Rose of Sexual Assault and Battery – Lawsuit Filed

A former model and actress has filed a lawsuit against Axl Rose, the lead singer of Guns N’ Roses, alleging that he sexually assaulted her in a New York City hotel during an encounter in 1989. Sheila Kennedy, the plaintiff, claims that Rose used his fame and celebrity status to manipulate and control her, leading to the alleged assault. The lawsuit was filed in New York on Wednesday.

In the complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Kennedy states that she was not aware of who Rose was when they met at a nightclub, where she had been invited by a friend. According to Kennedy, Rose pushed her against a wall, kissed her, and later encouraged group sex, which made her uncomfortable. She alleges that Rose then assaulted her, leaving her with lifelong emotional, physical, and psychological impacts.

Despite the claims made by Kennedy, a lawyer for Rose denies the allegations, stating that the incident never happened. The attorney also mentioned that the claims were filed just one day before the New York State filing deadline expired. Rose, through his lawyer, expressed confidence that the case would be resolved in his favor, as he denies ever meeting or speaking to Kennedy.

Kennedy, a former Penthouse model, claims that the assault led to her being diagnosed with anxiety and depression and negatively impacted her career. She alleges that the incident has caused her to experience symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder whenever she hears Rose’s name or Guns N’ Roses music.

Interestingly, Kennedy had previously detailed her encounter with Rose in her 2016 memoir, “No One’s Pet.” In the book, she described feeling overpowered and compelled to acquiesce to Rose’s actions. Despite the traumatic experience, Kennedy expressed mixed feelings towards Rose, stating that while she did not desire to see him burn in hell, she believed he deserved consequences for his actions.

The complaint also draws attention to other instances of alleged sexual abuse involving Rose, including his arrest for statutory rape (with later dropped charges) and accusations made by his former partners, Erin Everly and Stephanie Seymour. Both women alleged abuse by Rose and filed suits against him, which were settled out of court.

Kennedy’s allegations were filed just before the expiration of the N.Y. Adult Survivors Act, which allowed adult sex assault survivors a one-year window to sue their abusers regardless of when the abuse occurred. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing conversation surrounding sexual assault and the importance of supporting survivors.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org for support and resources.