Steven Tyler , frontman of Aerosmith , has denied all accusations made against him in a case of child sexual abuse.
The accusations surfaced in December when Julia Misley , known as Julia Holcomb at the time, accused the vocalist of sexual abuse during a relationship they had in the 1970s when she was 16 years old.
In the indictment documents, she said she had a relationship with him for three years and that the frontman convinced the girl's mother to transfer custody to him so that she could go on tour with him.
The indictment cites excerpts from Steven Tyler's autobiography in which he discusses how he "almost got engaged to a teenage girl" and how her parents "signed a paper to transfer custody to me so I wouldn't be arrested when I took her out of state."
The document also states that Tyler "persuaded" Misley into believing they were in a romantic relationship and details that he forced her to have an abortion in 1975 when she became pregnant by him.
Now, the Aerosmith frontman has responded to the case, citing 24 defenses and denying all accusations. In defense of Shawn Holley , the musician stated that all claims are "barred" as the claimant gave "consent" and added that Tyler should receive immunity as he was a "guardian" at the time (via NME ).
The defense also stated that Misley “did not suffer any injury or harm as a result of any action by the defendant” and that the conduct – presumably referring to her memories – is protected by the First Amendment.
Tyler also stated that the statute of limitations had expired on the allegations. However, the lawsuit was filed under California's Child Victims Act: a 2019 law that allowed victims of childhood sexual assault to come forward regardless of a statute of limitations.
Following Tyler's response to the accusations, Misley's lawyer, Jeff Anderson , issued a statement accusing the musician of manipulating Misley: "He is inflicting further pain on Misley and manipulating her by falsely claiming that she 'consented' and that the pain he inflicted was 'justified and in good faith'," he said.
“We have never encountered a legal defense as unpleasant and potentially dangerous as the one Tyler and his lawyers launched this week: the claim that legal guardianship is consent and permission for sexual abuse.”
Tyler has not yet commented on Anderson's statement.