Singer Jordan Pruitt has filed a lawsuit accusing her former manager, Keith Thomas, of sexually abusing her. She has also sued her former record label, Hollywood Records, and its parent company, the Walt Disney Co., alleging that they failed to prevent the abuse.
“Unfortunately, these large companies are primarily concerned with sales, money and charts,” The Voice contestant said in a statement to Variety. “Too often they fall short of protecting the young talent that they are supposed to be caretakers for. Time and time again we see people in positions of power fail us. I couldn’t be more disappointed in how Disney treats their underage talent like cash cows.”
Jordan signed with the label back in 2005, and she went on to release two albums with them — No Ordinary Girl and Permission to Fly. The lawsuit claims that the abuse began when she was only 14 years old, and continued until a week before her 16th birthday.
“I am standing up and speaking out not only for myself, but for the countless victims across the world who have never been given the opportunity for justice,” she continued. “It is extremely taboo for anyone to speak about sexual abuse, misconduct and exploitation of minors in the ordinarily conservative and genteel South. Over and above decorum, many fear the repercussions of coming forward for example (getting blacklisted from the industry, losing work, having YOUR reputation tarnished). To many victims, coming forward feels shameful. Even though the #MeToo movement has been very powerful for many, there is still much work that needs to be done. No one should ever be punished for telling the truth and seeking justice, period.”
The lawsuit alleges that Keith controlled Jordan’s entire professional life, cutting off contact with boys her own age and putting her down with negative comments about her looks and talents. The suit also claims that he would shower her with compliments, saying that he loved her and that no one understood how “special” their relationship was and that “their love was a secret.”
Back in December 2018, the “Jump to the Rhythm” songstress revealed that she had been molested as a teenager in an emotional Facebook post, but she did not identify the abuser at the time.
“At fifteen this person had brainwashed me into thinking that the things that were happening were ‘natural’ and ‘okay,’” she wrote. “While I will spare you any of the mind-piercing details, I can honestly and unfortunately say that this man sexually abused me for almost two years of my life. I am a victim of child molestation because of him.”
Jordan is also writing a book about her experience, called “Abuse Anonymous.”
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