LOS ANGELES, California — A civil human trafficking lawsuit filed on January 16th, 2024 in California accuses James Dolan, the influential figure behind Madison Square Garden, of coercing a massage therapist, Kellye Croft, into an unwanted sexual relationship. The lawsuit further alleges Dolan’s involvement in flying her across the country, culminating in a traumatic encounter with convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein in 2014.
Croft, who was hired as the official massage therapist for the late Glenn Frey of the Eagles in 2013, claims that Dolan, leveraging his power and influence, initiated sexual contact during the Eagles’ tour, which Dolan was largely funding. According to the lawsuit, Dolan’s actions included sexual trafficking, and flying Croft around the country to fulfill his “lewd desires.”
The lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles federal district court, names Dolan, his band JD & The Straight Shot, Weinstein, and companies associated with manager and music promoter Irving Azoff as defendants. Seeking unspecified monetary damages, the complaint alleges that Dolan, then 58, manipulated the 27-year-old licensed massage therapist into a series of sexual encounters during the Eagles’ tour.
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One disturbing aspect of the lawsuit recounts Croft’s encounter with Weinstein in a California hotel room in 2014. Croft, who had not met Weinstein before this incident, alleges that Dolan coordinated the encounter. Weinstein, currently serving a 23-year sentence in New York with an additional 16-year sentence in California, is vehemently denying the allegations.
Dolan’s lawyer, E. Danya Perry, has dismissed the claims, stating, “There is absolutely no merit to any of the allegations against Mr. Dolan. Kellye Croft and James Dolan had a friendship… We look forward to proving that in court.” Weinstein’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, also denies the allegations, expressing confidence that the truth will be revealed through litigation.
In her statement, Croft said, “I have suffered so profoundly because of what James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein did to me years ago, and it was not an easy decision to come forward and seek justice.” She hopes that her lawsuit will hold Dolan accountable for the harm she alleges he caused.
