The Late Late Show country special made last minute change after rape accusations

RTÉ bosses halted plans to include a cover of Brooks’ most well-known hit, Friends in Low Places, on the pre recorded chat show on Friday night, but it never went ahead

by · RSVP Live

A Garth Brooks song was dropped from The Late Late Show country special at the 11th hour in the wake of rape allegations against the star.

Montrose bosses halted plans to include a cover of Brooks’ most well-known hit, Friends in Low Places, on the pre recorded chat show, reports the Irish Mirror.

According to a source the song was performed in the dress rehearsal but it was axed as details of US court allegations of rape, sexual assault and battery emerged.

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Brooks, 62, has strenuously denied the claims and said the lawsuit was a bid for "hush money".

The woman, identified as Jane Roe in the lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, claims Brooks raped her in a hotel room in 2019 when she was working as a hairstylist and make-up artist for the singer.

He is accused of subjecting her to unwanted sexual conduct, including exposing himself on several occasions and "groping her breasts".

The woman claimed the trauma from the alleged sexual assault "became so unbearable" that she contemplated taking her own life.

Two-time Grammy winner Brooks, who played five concerts at Croke Park in 2022, said the lawsuit is an attempt at extortion for "millions of dollars".

In a statement on Friday, he added: "For the last two months I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a cheque for many millions of dollars. It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face."

Susan McCann was inducted into the Irish Country Music Hall pictured on The Late Late Country Music Special(Image: Andres Poveda PHOTOGRAPHY)

An RTE spokesperson said: "The Late Late Show Country Music Special was pre-recorded on Thursday. There was uncertainty about the specifics of an emerging news story prior to recording of the song. Through an abundance of caution, a decision was made to make an editorial change.

"No song was cut from the show. No Garth Brooks song was performed in front of a studio audience."

The Late Late Show returns to RTÉ One & RTÉ Player on Friday 13th September, 9:35pm

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