High-profile Sports Agent Jonathan Barnett Faces Grave Allegations in US Lawsuit

A lawsuit filed by an unnamed woman claims British sports agent Jonathan Barnett raped her over 39 times and kept her as a "sex slave" for six years, allegations he vehemently denies. The case, which also names CAA Stellar, highlights claims of severe abuse and coercion.

High-profile British sports agent Jonathan Barnett, known for his representation of top football players, is embroiled in a disturbing legal battle following accusations of rape and human trafficking in a civil lawsuit filed in a US district court in Los Angeles. The suit rests on allegations made by an unnamed woman, referred to as "Jane Doe", who asserts that Barnett raped her more than 39 times over a six-year period, beginning with her relocation from Australia to the UK in 2017.

The lawsuit claims Barnett "trafficked" her from Australia, treating her as a "sex slave" and subjecting her to various forms of violence and coercion. The woman alleges that Barnett issued life-threatening threats against her and her children, fostering an atmosphere of fear and control. She details horrific experiences, including degradation and torture, asserting that he imposed strict rules, requiring her to address him as "My Master" and forbidding her from expressing pain.

Barnett, 75, has adamantly denied the allegations, categorizing them as baseless and untrue. His legal team expressed their intention to defend against the claims vigorously, looking forward to proving his innocence. Barnett, once hailed by Forbes as the world's most powerful sports agent, reconnected with the woman after meeting in the 1990s through a shared connection in the professional sports realm.

The lawsuit also implicates Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and its sports management branch, CAA Stellar, suggesting that they failed to recognize significant financial transactions that occurred over the years, despite the woman’s lack of any professional affiliation with them. According to court documents, Barnett allegedly referred to her in derogatory terms and exploited his financial influence to enforce control.

Lawyers for the complainant claim that her case exposes unsettling patterns of institutional abuse by high-profile individuals within the sports industry. In response to the lawsuit, CAA has maintained that they took the allegations seriously and had encouraged the woman to approach law enforcement regarding her claims. The unfolding case, which raises serious questions about accountability and abuse in the sports world, is poised to attract significant attention as it proceeds through the legal system.