‘Even people who don’t like him were shocked,’ says source (exclusive)

Brooks was recently sued by his former hair and makeup artist based on allegations of sexual abuse and assault, although he denied the allegations.

The country music community apparently did not expect the sexual assault and battery allegations against Garth Brooks.

On Oct. 3, the 62-year-old “Friends in Low Places” singer was sued by her former hair and makeup artist under the name “Jane Roe,” who alleged that Brooks behaved inappropriately and raped her while they worked together.

He has since denied the allegations and filed two complaints against Roe on Oct. 8, but a country music source tells PEOPLE the whole ordeal took Nashville by surprise.

“Everyone is shocked,” the source said. “Even people who don’t like him were shocked.”

Related: Garth Brooks rape accuser’s legal team slams singer for naming her in lawsuit: ‘Moving for maximum sanctions’

Brooks filed two complaints against Roe in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi earlier this week. According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, the “Callin’ Baton Rouge” artist named the accuser while referring to her lawsuit as an “extortion” attempt.

His legal team has stated that their goal with the lawsuits is to “obtain relief” from the defendant’s “continuing attempted extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy in false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress through outrageous conduct.”

In one of the lawsuits, the Grammy winner’s lawyers also claimed that the “false” allegations would “irreparably harm Plaintiff’s reputation, family, career and livelihood.”

Related: Garth Brooks Names Rape Accuser in New Suit Amid Sexual Assault Prosecution He Calls an ‘Extortion’ Attempt

Following the news of Brooks filing her complaints, Roe’s legal team Douglas H. Wigdor (Founding Partner Wigdor LLP), Jeanne M. Christensen (Partner Wigdor LLP) and Hayley Baker (HB Advocates PLLC) responded in a statement obtained by PEOPLE .

“Garth Brooks just revealed his true self,” they wrote. “Without any legal justification, Brooks reported her because he doesn’t think the laws apply to him. On behalf of our client, we will take action for maximum sanctions against him immediately.”

Before the Roe claims became public, Brooks originally filed a lawsuit against her under the name “John Doe.” On October 8, he filed court documents saying he would “repeat his (original) complaint without pseudonyms” against “Jane Roe” and claimed his lawyers “revealed” his identity to the media.

Roe alleged in her lawsuit that Brooks exposed his genitals to her, talked openly about sex and sexual fantasies, changed his clothes in her presence, and sent sexually explicit text messages to her in 2019. She also alleged that he raped her in a suite hotel room and asked her to have a “menage à trois” with his wife Trisha Yearwood, according to the documents.

Related: Garth Brooks Claims He’s Victim of a ‘Shakedown,’ Says Rape Accuser Wanted to Blackmail Him for ‘Millions’ in New Lawsuit

In a statement to PEOPLE, Brooks denied the allegations and said he “has been bothered endlessly with threats, lies and tragic stories about what my future would be like if I didn’t write a multi-million dollar check.”

“Silent money, no matter how much or how little, is still silent money. In my opinion, this means I am condoning behavior I am incapable of — ugly acts that no human being should do to another,” his statement continued. “We filed a lawsuit against this person almost a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character. We filed it anonymously for the sake of the families on both sides.”

Brooks added, “I want to play music… I want to continue our good deeds going forward. It breaks my heart that these wonderful things are in question now. I trust the system, I don’t fear the truth, and I’m not the man they painted me to be .”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to www.rainn.org.

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Read the original article in People.