A woman is seeking legal action against music executive Jimmy Iovine, claiming that the Interscope Records co-founder sexually abused her and forcibly touched her, according to legal documents obtained by Rolling Stone.
In court filings, Jane Doe alleges that Iovine, 70, perpetrated “multiple instances of sexual abuse and forcible touching of her, including a specific incident of sexual misconduct” that took place in New York City in August 2007. The legal filing contained little additional information regarding the woman’s specific claims, but a lawsuit is expected by the end of the year. The woman is also claiming that she faced sexual harassment and retaliation, and is seeking an unspecified amount of damages. Doe’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, declined to comment further on the case.
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In response to the legal filing, a spokesperson for Iovine stated that they are “shocked and baffled” by the claims. “This inquiry is the first we’ve heard of this matter,” the spokesperson said. “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.”
Iovine is one of the most successful record executives of all time, starting his career as a producer in the 1970s, working with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, U2, and Stevie Nicks. He co-founded Interscope Records in 1989, where he remained until 2014.
During his tenure as Interscope’s CEO, Iovine played a pivotal role in making the company one of the biggest labels, bringing in artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac through a partnership with Death Row Records in the early 1990s. Dr. Dre left Death Row in 1996 and founded Aftermath Entertainment under Interscope, continuing to work with Iovine. The label went on to sign artists such as Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. Other notable acts signed by Iovine include No Doubt, Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, and Nine Inch Nails.
In addition to his other accomplishments, Iovine co-founded Beats By Dre with the rapper-producer in 2006 and sold the company to Apple in 2014 for $3 billion; it remains the largest acquisition in Apple’s history. Dre and Iovine also founded the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy at USC in 2013. Last year, Iovine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award, which is given to industry professionals.
The plaintiff, known as Jane Doe, is planning to file her forthcoming lawsuit against Iovine under New York’s Adult Survivor Act, which allows victims of sexual offenses to file a civil suit against their abuser within a one-year window. The window is set to close on Thursday, and in the act’s final hours, several lawsuits naming high-profile figures, including Diddy,Russell Brand, Axl Rose, and Bill Cosby, have been filed.
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