Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is facing serious allegations of s**ual abuse from his accuser, Julia Misley.
Misley’s lawyer, Jeff Anderson, has criticized Tyler’s defense as “repugnant” and accused him of putting vulnerable children at risk.
Tyler argues that any claims of abuse made by Misley, who was 16 at the time, should be dismissed on the grounds of consent.
He also claims that his alleged status as Misley’s legal guardian at the time protects him from some of her allegations.
However, Anderson argues that Tyler used a fake legal guardianship to avoid prosecution for s** crimes.
He claims that Tyler had a duty of care to ensure Misley’s safety and that he put her life in danger by leaving her stranded in an empty apartment while she was pregnant and forcing her to have an abortion.
Misley, now 66, filed a lawsuit against Tyler in December last year under the 2020 California Child Victims Act.
The act temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for juvenile victims of s**ual abuse, allowing them to file civil suits against their abusers until the end of 2022.
In her lawsuit, Misley alleges that Tyler used money and influence when she was a minor to engage in a s**ual relationship with her.
She claims that the abuse went on for three years and occurred in multiple states.
According to Misley, the relationship began when she turned 16 in 1973 and went backstage at an Aerosmith concert.
She says that Tyler performed various acts of criminal s**ual conduct on her and flew her to other concerts over the next few years.
Misley also alleges that Tyler convinced her parents to sign over guardianship of her to him in 1974, allowing him to travel with her and avoid prosecution.
However, she claims that Tyler did not fulfill his promises to support her and provide her with medical care, instead continuing to assault her and provide alcohol and drugs.
In 1975, Misley became pregnant as a result of Tyler’s abuse.
She claims that Tyler left her in an apartment with little food, money, and no car, which caught fire and caused her to lose consciousness from smoke inhalation.
Misley says that Tyler then pressured her to have an abortion by threatening to send her back to her family if she didn’t comply.
Tyler, whose legal name is Steven Victor Tallarico, filed an answer to Misley’s complaint in March 2023, categorically denying all of her allegations.
He listed 24 affirmative defenses, including consent and immunity.
Anderson criticized Tyler’s defense as “gaslighting” and accused him of “retraumatizing” his client.
He argued that guardianship does not imply consent to s**ual abuse and called Tyler’s defense a public safety threat to vulnerable children in legal guardianships.
Tyler’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
In his memoir from 2004, Tyler discusses an ongoing relationship that mirrors some of Misley’s claims.
However, he maintains that he is not liable for the allegations raised in her lawsuit.
The case against Tyler highlights the need for accountability in the music industry and the protection of vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.
It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will unfold and whether other victims will come forward.
