Latest news with #CAAStellar
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Sport agent Jonathan Barnett accused of rape in US lawsuit
High-profile British sports agent Jonathan Barnett has been accused of raping a woman more than 39 times, in a US a civil complaint lodged at a US district court in Los Angeles, the unnamed woman, referred to as "Jane Doe", says Mr Barnett "trafficked" her from Australia to the UK in 2017, "tortured" and kept her as a "sex slave" over a six year says Mr Barnett made "repeated threats to her life and the lives of her minor children".The 75-year-old known for representing leading footballers including Gareth Bale and Jack Grealish, says the charges "have no basis in reality and are untrue". "We will vigorously defend this lawsuit through the appropriate legal process. I am looking forward to being entirely vindicated and exonerated," a statement from his lawyers Barnett was ranked as the world's most powerful sports agent in 2019 by Forbes civil case was filed on to court documents, the pair first met in the 1990s through a professional athlete in London and reconnected online and then in person in 2017. Within a matter of weeks she relocated to the UK with her teenage children - with sports agency CAA Stellar, headed by Mr Barnett, covering moving filing says that upon her arrival, he told her he "owned" her and raped her in a hotel Barnett went on to impose strict rules to obey him at all times, referring to him as "My Master" and to "never say it hurts", according to the lawsuit. The complaint goes on to describe alleged degrading acts that included drinking urine or ingesting faeces. The alleged torture also included the woman "tied up overnight without food or water".She says she was "trafficked, threatened, tortured, and held" in bondage in different locations throughout the world, including Los Angeles, from 2017 to 2023."Realising she was powerless against a dangerous predator, Ms Doe submitted to Barnett in order to avoid being severely beaten or even killed," the lawsuit said. "Jane Doe" is also suing Hollywood talent firm Creative Artists Agency and sports agency CAA Stellar, where Mr Barnett was executive chairman until his retirement last court documents state the CAA Stellar's parent companies, talent agencies ICM and CAA, "failed to find and/or willfully or recklessly disregarded" that substantial payments were made between 2017 and 2023, despite the woman not being an athlete or agent. It is claimed Barnett referred to her as "slave" in emails sent from his work documents say Mr Barnett used his "money and power to maintain coercive control" over the woman who was "in fear of her life and the lives of her children". Lawyers for "Jane Doe" state the case is about "institutional abuse at the highest level". They are seeking compensation on her behalf. According to LA Times, CAA said it first heard of the woman's allegations last year when her lawyers made settlement demands - and the press inquired."While the complaint attempts to connect these allegations to CAA's business, Ms Doe has never been an employee, consultant, or contractor of CAA, ICM, or Stellar, nor has she ever had any business connection to CAA, ICM, or Stellar," CAA said in its statement. "CAA takes any allegations of this nature seriously, and through counsel, promptly urged Ms Doe to contact law enforcement in the United Kingdom."
Los Angeles Times
18 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Former CAA executive accused of trafficking by woman who says she was kept as a ‘sex slave'
An unnamed woman this week sued prominent British soccer agent Jonathan Barnett, accusing him of raping her and keeping her as a 'sex slave.' The woman alleged in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles that Barnett coerced her into becoming his 'sex slave' and used his company's resources to aid in his control over her. The woman, who was referred to in the lawsuit as 'Jane Doe,' also sued Hollywood talent firm Creative Artists Agency and sports agency CAA Stellar, where Barnett served as executive chairman. Barnett denied the allegations. 'The claims made in today's complaint against me have no basis in reality and are untrue,' Barnett said in a statement. 'We will vigorously defend this lawsuit through the appropriate legal process. I am looking forward to being entirely vindicated and exonerated.' CAA said it first learned of the woman's allegations through a press inquiry in 2024 and settlement demands from the woman's attorney. 'While the complaint attempts to connect these allegations to CAA's business, Ms. Doe has never been an employee, consultant, or contractor of CAA, ICM, or Stellar, nor has she ever had any business connection to CAA, ICM, or Stellar,' CAA said in its statement. 'CAA takes any allegations of this nature seriously.' Barnett exited Stellar in February 2024. The woman, who currently resides in Australia, said Barnett had initially promised her employment at CAA Stellar and paid for her to move her children from Australia to the United Kingdom as part of the employment package, according to the lawsuit. But after she moved to the U.K., she alleged she was 'trafficked, threatened, tortured, and held' in bondage in different locations throughout the world, including L.A., from 2017 to 2023, the lawsuit said. The woman was introduced to Barnett by a friend in the mid-1990s and then reconnected with Barnett in 2017 after he sent her a message on LinkedIn, the lawsuit said. After the two met for lunch in London in 2017, Barnett offered her an employment package that included payment for moving expenses, sponsorship of her and her two children's visas, school tuition for her children, housing and a starting salary of 4,000 pounds and a summer bonus, the lawsuit said. After she moved to London, Barnett asked to meet the woman at a hotel room, where Barnett allegedly told her that he 'owned' her and to call him 'my Master,' the lawsuit said. Then he ordered her to remove her clothes and later struck her down and raped her, according to the lawsuit. 'Realizing she was powerless against a dangerous predator, Ms. Doe submitted to Barnett in order to avoid being severely beaten or even killed,' the lawsuit said. The complaint alleged that Barnett referred to the woman as 'slave' as well as other demeaning words like 'dog' or 'whore,' and demanded she send videos of herself doing degrading acts, including drinking her own urine, licking the toilet with her mouth, eating her own feces and whipping herself as 'punishment.' The woman said Barnett punched, kicked, stomped on her fingers and whipped her, insisting she send him videos and photos of the wounds he inflicted to his company phone, the lawsuit said. 'To this day, Ms. Doe still has urinary tract infections, skin rashes, mouth ulcers, and bleeds from her vagina in an abnormal way as a result of Barnett's horrific and barbaric torture and abuse,' the lawsuit said. Barnett has been a leading figure in the sports representation business. In 2019, he ranked as No. 1 on Forbes' most powerful sports agent list. A year later, the magazine named him the world's top soccer agent, negotiating $1.42 billion in active contracts and transfer fees. He negotiated deals for boxers — clients have included the former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis — before launching Stellar Sports with co-founder David Manasseh in 1992. The two men represented cricket players and later signed prominent soccer athletes such as Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch. Stellar eventually became the world's largest soccer agency, with a roster of more than 800 athletes when it sold to talent agency ICM Partners in 2020. Now owned by CAA, the firm helped make CAA the most valuable sports agency on Forbes' 2022 list. Barnett had served as CAA Stellar's executive chairman until last year. The lawsuit alleged that CAA, which acquired ICM in June 2022 and other defendants 'turned a blind eye' to emails and other communications on company-owned devices and company-monitored accounts where he referred to her as 'slave' and told her to 'get back to work.' CAA Stellar's accounting firm BSG Valentine had guaranteed the apartment leases where he kept the woman and a Stellar assistant assisted Barnett in dropping off payments to the woman, the lawsuit said. During the workday, Stellar drivers would bring Barnett to where the woman was staying and wait for him while he beat and raped her, the lawsuit alleged. In 2020, Stellar was negotiating its sale to ICM Partners. In January, July and September of that year, Stellar wired payments to the woman worth 20,400 pounds, the lawsuit said. After Stellar was acquired, the company posted on its website a modern slavery statement that said ICM Stellar Sports is committed 'to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not taking place anywhere within either our business,' the lawsuit said.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Newcastle fans convinced Anthony Elanga is joining after cryptic nine-word reply to William Osula
NEWCASTLE fans reckon Anthony Elanga is on his way to St James' Park after spotting his cryptic nine-word message. Elanga fuelled the rumour mill while congratulating Toon star William Osula on his two goals for Denmark at the under-21 Euros. 5 5 Osula was named in the starting XI and guided Denmark to a 2-1 comeback win over the Netherlands to advance to the quarter-finals. Alongside images from the win, Osula wrote on Sunday: 'Two goals. GODS work. Through to quarter final.' Osula received some interesting replies, with Toon teammate Joe Willock writing: 'This is what we spoke about .. Gods work.' But the most intriguing comment came from Newcastle target Elanga, who is close pals with Osula. The former Manchester United winger wrote: 'Not gonna say too much … keep going ma boy.' But the 23-year-old's price tag could be an issue, with Newcastle valuing him at £35million, while Forest want more than £50million. Toon fans will hope that Elanga's relationship with Osula can tempt the Swede to Tyneside. 5 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Elanga also messaged Osula after his goal against Ukraine and now he has done it again following the 21-year-old's latest achievement. The two struck up a friendship after both being represented by talent agency CAA Stellar. Fans say 'I'm getting leg cramps just watching' as ex-Man Utd ace Anthony Elanga shows off insane workout workout That is the same company that represents Toon goalkeeper Nick Pope and other Newcastle transfer target James Trafford. Howe's side were linked with a move for Elanga last summer, after signing Osula from Sheffield United for £15million. Meanwhile, Newcastle are eyeing replacements on the other flank in case Anthony Gordon leaves this summer. SunSport exclusively revealed that Liverpool are weighing up a £100million move for the England star. Boyhood Liverpool fan Gordon moved to St James' Park from Everton for £45m in January 2024. He even signed a new contract last October, notching six goals and five assists in the Prem in the 2024/2025 season.
