In a recent case, Axl Rose is charged with sexually abusing a former Penthouse model.

Sheila Kennedy, a model and actress, has filed a lawsuit against Axl Rose, the lead singer of the rock band Guns N’ Roses, alleging sexual assault. The suit claims the assault occurred in 1989 after the two met in a New York City nightclub. Kennedy accuses Rose of battery, assault, gender-motivated violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in a lawsuit filed with the New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The unspecified damages sought in the lawsuit stem from an alleged incident in a New York hotel room where Kennedy contends that Rose, who was at the height of his career, attacked her. The complaint details a violent encounter, asserting that Rose overpowered and sexually assaulted her, causing Kennedy significant emotional and physical distress.

Dr. Ann Olivarius, representing Kennedy, views the lawsuit as a potential turning point in addressing a culture of violence and sexual misconduct within the music industry, which has historically been overlooked or covered up.

Axl Rose, through his attorney Alan S. Gutman, has denied the allegations, noting the timing of the lawsuit’s filing just before the deadline set by the New York State Adult Survivors Act. This act, which came into effect in late November 2022, allows survivors of sexual abuse to pursue legal action against their abusers, even if the statute of limitations has expired. The act provides a one-year window for these lawsuits, which is nearing its end.

Sheila Kennedy, known for her appearance as Penthouse’s “Pet of the Year” in 1983, had previously discussed the allegations in her 2016 memoir. Axl Rose, renowned for leading Guns N’ Roses to global fame with hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” faces this legal challenge as the music industry grapples with its longstanding issues around sexual misconduct.