Bob Dylan Sex Abuse Allegation

I'm a huge fan of Bob Dylan so I've very mixed emotions posting this- I suppose let's see how the legal process plays out. The allegation relates to an event that took place over 55 years ago- 1965. Like any sex abuse allegation, it's obviously a challenging case for all but more so in this case, given the passage of time.

A lawsuit, filed Friday, alleges the Nobel laureate plied a girl with drugs and alcohol and abused her over six weeks in 1965

The lawsuit alleges that the Times They Are A-Changin’ singer “befriended and established an emotional connection with the plaintiff”, identified in Manhattan supreme court papers, obtained by the Guardian, only as “JC” and groomed her over the course of six weeks in April and May 1965.

The suit, filed late Friday on behalf of JC, now a 68-year-old woman living in Greenwich, Connecticut, alleges that Dylan, then 23 or 24 years old, “exploited his status as a musician by grooming JC to gain her trust and to obtain control over her as part of his plan to sexually molest and abuse” her.

According to the complaint, Dylan established a “connection” with JC to “lower her inhibitions with the object of sexually abusing her, which he did, coupled with the provision of drugs, alcohol and threats of physical violence, leaving her emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged to this day”.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/16/bob-dylan-accusations-sexual-abuse-lawsuit

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058204548/bob-dylan-sex-abuse-allegation

Yeah like you say, all we can do is wait and see how it works out.

The typical Boards response would be to think about whether we like the accuser/accused or like/dislike the Metoo movement and decide based on the answers to those questions whether the allegations are true or not. Ill just take the unpopular approach of admitting I wasn't there when the alleged event took place and I don't have a clue if its true or not. So all they can do is investigate and all we can do is wait and see how it works out.

It'll probably take years to know if its true or not.

NIMAN

I was always shocked there wasn't more cases like this taken against big music stars of the 60s, 70s, 80s.

"..plied a girl with drugs and alcohol and abused her.."

I'm guessing that could be said or aimed at so many more famous people.

elperello

This link says the dates don't match the claim. As said above this probably has a while to run.

https://www.showbiz411.com/2021/08/16/bob-dylan-hit-with-bogus-lawsuit-claiming-molestation-in-nyc-april-may-1965-not-possible-he-wasnt-there

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769011#Comment_117769011

A fair summary- I think that's probably why no-one actually posted this even though the news has been around since yesterday - from a personal perspective, and like I said, I don't feel too good about creating this thread as Dylan has been part of my life from a musical perspective for decades- but I'm not here to "defend" him either if such a story is true.

It's unlikely to have either a definitive or positive outcome. His personal life, including children and marriages, has always been shrouded in secrecy until relatively recent years.

Not sure where this thread will go but it's news, and Current Affairs was a suitable enough forum for it, given the global nature of his public profile - but as you say, what else can you do at this point?

Maybe folk here might just want to comment or something, I dunno. I just hope this accusation is a one-off and can be legally resolved at least.

olestoepoke

I'm also a big fan of Dylan so hope it's bullshit. 55 years is a long time. As a previous poster said, it's amazing we don't hear more of this given the stories you hear about the likes of Led Zeppelin etc.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769059#Comment_117769059

You can never know the complete truth with many of these cases, I suppose. I don't know.

But perhaps this could be akin to what transpired with Jimmy Saville; where the initial accusation leads to an avalanche of other women coming forward to admit that they too experienced the same crime.

buried

Sounds similar to the Cliff Richard allegation noise event.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769019#Comment_117769019

I posted similar in another thread many years ago - the "Actors" have had their "purge" of sex exploitation for many years now but the Rock n' Rollers have been relatively quiet overall in terms of legal cases- is it that in general, "groupies" are/were willing participants, in general, even though there was a huge level of exploitation involved, whether they acknowledge that or not?

Edit- I'm not referring to the current thread under discussion, but just rock n roll artists/groups in general, and groupies of legal age, in case there's any dispute around what I'm saying.

Strumms

I’d wonder if it’s just an attempt to get cash.

If Dylan was of that character no way would it have gone not alleged until now... he’s always had it seems very positive relationships with females in the music industry too, respected feminists and people like Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris are great longtime pals of his... if he was a sleeze I doubt it’s going to get past people of that circle.

if it went to court now there would be zero DNA evidence, zero anything evidence really, maybe hoping Bob cuts her a cheque and that’s it.

Seve OB

It’s a complete unknown

These cases are ridiculous. 50+ years ago, no evidence just some ones say.

yaknowski

The lads out of Led Zeppelin, The Stones etc. must be fearing these stories coming out about underage groupies etc.

""Maddox was just 14 when their relationship started; Page was 28. 

What happened is that I was kidnapped, literally," Maddox said once in a documentary. "He told me was going to be with me, and I said no, he wasn't, and he said, 'Yes, I am.' Then we all ended up at the Rainbow [Bar and Grill], and Richard Cole says to me, 'Get in the bloody car and if you move, I'll have your head.' Next thing you know, I'm at the [Hyatt House] hotel, and I'm walking down the hall, and next thing you know, I'm pulled into this door ... And I turned around and, look, there was Jimmy sitting in the corner of the room with a hat and a cane saying, 'I told you I'm gonna have you.'

Beechwoodspark

since “me too” I’ve Always expected to hear of more cases involving the likes of Dylan, the Beatles, the stones, led zep, various other rockers

olestoepoke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769311#Comment_117769311

The question has to be asked, why wait so long to come out with the accusation?

dePeatrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769368#Comment_117769368

Exactly, why wait half a century before speaking up? I’m no fan of Dylan at all but surely people’s memories of an event are truly marred after 50years!

deandean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769368#Comment_117769368

Maybe it's because he just sold his back catalogue to Universal Music for a reported $300 million.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769404#Comment_117769404

How would it even be fair, not only to him, but to the processes of justice to ask a man, 80 years of age to recall some meeting/interaction with a girl from 50 years ago, that’s just mad... and very odd.

50 years, I’m nowhere 50 years of age but if someone asked me to tell them about meeting someone in a bar 15 years ago with the purpose of having to defend myself I’d be struggling...

Beechwoodspark

Always felt there was something dodgy about him...can’t say why just always felt that

dePeatrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769442#Comment_117769442

Well I’m older and sometimes someone reminds me of something that happened in the 70s and at times I have zero recollection.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769442#Comment_117769442

Also add in the serious amounts of drink and drugs involved... never mind the wide range of women he would have been with. To recall something from 50 years ago with any accuracy, under the best of circumstances would be nigh on impossible. Memory naturally shifts over time anyway.

beachhead

I might have been in the hotel around the same time.I must ask my mother.

Dave0301

Whatever about the length of time etc. it never fails to annoy me that the accused are not afforded the same anonymity as the potential victim.

It should be investigated thoroughly of course and hopefully the correct outcome reached.

The Oort Cloud

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769462#Comment_117769462

Idiot

screamer

Can't stand his music, and never, ever will understand why people rave about it. These allegations, are just that, and he is entitled to his good name and a fair process. I certainly hope that he is not another one tried in the court of social media.

Nozebleed

Its about time proper laws were introduced to protect men and boys against this type crap. its pure character assassination. Bob Dylan...of all people. ffs. not a hope in hell there's any truth to it. its high time false allegations carry a custodial sentence for the accuser. its disgusting, there's nothing but a hatred of men and boys in society these days...

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769510#Comment_117769510

They are afforded anonymity in Ireland. This case isn't happening in Ireland.

Beechwoodspark

If true it’s quite disgusting. A 12 year old for god sake. IF true ...

Beechwoodspark

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769577#Comment_117769577

Why do you say Bob Dylan “of all people. Not a hope in hell there’s any truth to it”

just curious as to why you say that???

for instance - always struck me as a strange character hiding something

BorneTobyWilde

It's obviously true, no one makes this up , but no way to prove it, so it will go away, and that's the way it is.

Ficheall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769462#Comment_117769462

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769633#Comment_117769633

You see the incongruity here, right?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769659#Comment_117769659

Except that there've been lots of false allegations, but no, you know your stuff.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769109#Comment_117769109

When the stuff came out about Placido Domingo, I remember thinking, if that was the fundamental reason he got into music, he's in the wrong genre. There doesn't seem to be a groupie scene around opera, so he ends up making unwelcome advances to his co-stars...

chosen1

Whether it's true or not, his reputation is tainted. The same thing happened with several other famous people in the USA and UK, but as far as I'm aware, he would not be named in Ireland.

I can't understand how it's fair for someone to be named based on an allegation as even if proven innocent, there will always be those who will claim there was no smoke without fire.

If it's proven true in a court of law, that's a different story and should get what's coming to him, but not before that.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769659#Comment_117769659

Except all the people that do make it up.

Lol. You're one of the ones that think we live in a rape culture aren't you?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769694#Comment_117769694

I'd place that more in the "actors" category than I would the "RnR" category and a lot lower on the assault scale than the allegation we have in this thread- harassing fellow musicians, singers etc is quite a lot different to rape allegations of a minor.

From a RnR perspective, leaving aside Michael Jackson and the multiple allegations, in modern times, the R&R genre has tended to only report on B-list music artists such as the disgusting Garry Glitter and some members of glam rock UK bands from the 70s- there's some modern 21st century examples too but again mainly b-list - yes, indeed, go back far enough in R&R time, and you've got Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and others who were all associated with under-age girls in one guise or another- but in the main, the A-listers of the 60's 70's and 80's have somehow been unreported.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/mar/15/i-wouldnt-want-this-for-anybodys-daughter-will-metoo-kill-off-the-rocknroll-groupie

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/10/placido-domingo-la-opera-sexual-harassment

John Doe1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan_England_Tour_1965

He was in tour in England at the time so the dates dont match. #DoubtAllWomen

Ash.J.Williams

Knock knock

Who there?

Luke

Luke who?

Luke up Steven Tyler statutory rape on the google there

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769763#Comment_117769763

That doesn't "prove" anything either way- the alleged victim states that the "grooming" and "abuse" happened "at certain times" over a period of 6 weeks between April and May '65- Dylan's tour dates of England run from 30th April to May 10th.

I get the feeling that the accuser has her facts and her dates very clear and given her age, it's likely that Bob knew her mother i.e. that it's unlikely a 12 year old girl was in regular company with Bob Dylan without her parents or guardians' knowing where she was- that of course, is assuming that these allegations have any credibility to them. I assume that such a case would not be put forward without some form of credible evidence?

https://gaslightrecords.com/news/bob-dylan-uk-tour-dates

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769230#Comment_117769230

Why cut a cheque if innocent, he should fight it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769789#Comment_117769789

If she didn’t notice he was in England for a lot of that time and didn’t mention it it’s meaningful.

Bob Dylan is the most documented person in history. He tours so much people have reconstructed his life. It would be easy to catch a false accusation out.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769789#Comment_117769789

sorry, had to be done😝

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769765#Comment_117769765

There's plenty of groupie "stories" out there- I mean, you can add the famous Mandy Smith-Bill Wyman saga to that which was well publicised at the time, and of course Bowie who's underage alleged encounter story was recently reported too- to name but 2 - but extraordinarily, the legal and criminal cases have been few and far between.

More comprehensive timeline here.

https://www.gossipcop.com/bob-dylans-schedule-in-1965-calls-into-question-timeline-of-accusations/2570143/

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769812#Comment_117769812

I guess you can't help thinking about the accuser in all of this too though. What have they gone through in life to get to this stage to instigate a legal process? Because Dylan is so revered, so influential in the past, so much a part of the early 60's rebellion era that went on to shape future teenage attitudes and culture- a modern day American and in some respects, global icon-and especially since nothing of this nature has been raised so publicly in the past, I'll certainly give him the benefit of the doubt at this early stage - but between this, the "American Dad" Cosby cases, and other events in recent times, it does go to show, best not elevate any human being too high up on a pedestal.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769801#Comment_117769801

Absolutely, I’m just saying maybe she is angling after a cheque thinking he’ll want to avoid bad publicity.

olestoepoke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769633#Comment_117769633

You always felt there was something dodgy about him and he as always struck you as a strange character hiding something. Ok these comments are showing you up as someone that know absolutely nothing about Bob Dylan except a passing glance on TV 2 or 3 times in your life. Dylan is a strange character and has always behaved like he was hiding something, especially when talking to the press. I'll educate you seen as you clearly have no idea what you are dealing with. Bob Dylan is a musical and poetic genius, now this is recognised globally by fans and people who are not fans but know anything about music. Awarded the Nobel prize for literature, this is extremely rare for a popular musician to get this award and only the second time in over 160 years. Dylan’s lyrical output rewards thorough exploration like no other artist of the last 100 years, his influence on writers, songwriters and poets means, like him or not (and many justifiably choose the latter course such as yourself) he is a major figure in the history of the written word, comparable in many ways to his fellow singer-guitarist James Joyce. But then Joyce never won a Nobel Prize. Now by all means discuss the accusations at hand but please keep your ill informed ignorant character judgements to yourself.

olestoepoke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769659#Comment_117769659

Why is it "obviously true"?

Dylan just doesn't seem the type. But I guess you never know with people. If more women come forward, then it could all fall apart very quickly. I'm hoping it's not remotely true, but no mercy if it is.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769662#Comment_117769662

Of course he does.

Poster has history.

Lillyfae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770079#Comment_117770079

Hiding something from the press? Why would he ever do that I wonder??