Former supermodel accuses Axl Rose of assaulting her over 30 years ago, alleging she met the Guns N’ Roses frontman when she was around 26, and he sexually assaulted her in his hotel room in New York in 1989. Sheila Kennedy, a former Penthouse model and Pet of the Year in 1983, claimed that a friend had invited her to a nightclub to meet the band, and Rose ended up violently assaulting her in his hotel room. The suit stated that Kennedy had spoken with Rose at the club and was eventually invited to a party in his hotel room, along with another model and future MTV host Riki Rachtman.
Kennedy claimed that Rose plied them with cocaine, champagne, and other alcohol, and later into the night, she claimed that she was sexually assaulted by Rose, plied with hard drugs and alcohol. The suit further alleged that the night turned even worse when Rose started to have sex with another model, making Kennedy feel uncomfortable. After leaving Rose’s room, she heard a commotion and saw Rose aggressively confront the other model and allegedly shout offensive remarks. Kennedy further claimed that she felt threatened and was pushed into a room by Rose while alone with him. The suit stated that Rose further tied her hands behind her back with pantyhose and forcibly assaulted her.
Rose’s attorney has denied these allegations, stating that the incident “never happened” and that Rose has no recollection of ever meeting the plaintiff. However, Kennedy claimed that she has suffered from PTSD-like symptoms from hearing Rose’s name or Guns N’ Roses’ music, leading to anxiety and depression, and compromising her career.
The lawsuit was brought under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, and it referenced Rose’s previous claims of abuse for which he was sued in 1994. The suit also cited Kennedy’s previous publication about the alleged incident in her autobiography and a documentary on sexual misconduct in the music industry. The suit asked for unspecified damages for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and gender-motivated violence. This lawsuit is part of a wave of allegations against high-profile music-industry figures as several women have come forward with similar allegations against well-known artists and executives.
