Legendary American singer Bob Dylan has been accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl back in 1965. The accusations were made by the alleged victim, who is now 68 years old.
The woman, identified only as "J.C.," filed a lawsuit against the "Like a Rolling Stone" singer in New York. According to the lawsuit, the woman alleged that Dylan had wooed her and established an "emotional connection" with her. She alleged that Dylan then sexually abused her "multiple times" between April and May of 1965 when she was just 12 years old.
A spokesperson for Dylan said in a statement Monday that the accusations were "untrue." The statement added that Dylan is prepared to "vigorously" defend himself in court.
Attorneys representing the woman said Dylan befriended her with the intention of sexually abusing her. They alleged Dylan used a combination of drugs, alcohol, and threats of violence to coerce her into doing sexual acts. The attorneys claimed that Dylan's actions had left their client "emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged" even to this day.
The lawsuit claimed that the alleged sexual abuse happened at Dylan's own apartment at the Hotel Chelsea in New York. The lawsuit did not detail how the woman had met Dylan when she was a little girl, including the nature of the sexual abuse.
"The complaint speaks for itself. We'll prove all of the allegations in a court of law," attorney Daniel Isaacs, one of the attorneys representing J.C., said in a statement.
J.C. said she has continued to suffer "serious and severe mental distress" because of the abuses. She said she also incurred economic losses as a result and is seeking compensation and punitive damages from Dylan.
Dylan, who just turned 80 back in May, has not personally commented on the allegations. The singer has sold more than 125 million records throughout his career. He is famously known for composing and singing songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'."
Dylan won a Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for his impact on popular music and culture. In 2016, he was given the Nobel Prize in Literature for his creative and poetic contributions to American music.
