Jimmy Kimmel ignores Garth Brooks’ rape allegations in interview

Jimmy Kimmel didn’t ask Garth Brooks questions about being accused of rape during a fluffy interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Monday.

The late-night host, 57, greeted the 62-year-old country singer with a big smile and immediately asked some softball questions about his Thanksgiving plans.

“It’s very nice to see you. … I can’t imagine a better Thanksgiving guest because you’re as American as Americans come, and I mean that in a good way,” Kimmel told Brooks.

The ABC personality then listed several characteristics that make the Grammy winner “American,” such as being a country singer and a baseball player.

“You probably have more gratitude than anyone in the land you’re in,” he gushed.

Brooks thanked Kimmel for his kind words before joking that he’s also a “big eater,” prompting the comedian to ask the “Friends in Low Places” singer about his Turkey Day routine.

“We’ll invite about 25 people for Thanksgiving,” Brooks said, before praising the cooking skills of his wife, Trisha Yearwood.

“She’s a fantastic cook,” he said.

The couple got married in 2005. The musician was previously married to Sandy Mahl, with whom he has three daughters: Taylor, 32, August 30, and Allie, 28.

Kimmel peppered Brooks with questions about the holidays and his family; however, he specifically ignored any mention of the sexual violence allegations made against his guest.

Last month, a woman who worked as Brooks’ hairstylist sued the “Dance” singer for sexual assault and battery.

The alleged incident occurred in 2019, according to the complaint filed in California on October 3.

The hairdresser, who identified herself only as Jane Doe, accused Brooks of repeatedly exposing his genitals, changing clothes in front of her, discussing sexual fantasies and sending her vulgar text messages.

In one alleged interaction in 2019, Roe claimed she was at Brooks’ home when he emerged from the shower naked, “grabbed her hands and forced them” into his genitals while he said vulgar things to her.

That same year, he allegedly raped her in a hotel room during a business trip to Los Angeles.

Roe further alleged that Brooks groped her and made repeated comments about “having a threesome” with Yearwood.

The alleged victim stated in the lawsuit that she began working for Brooks in 2017, but was initially hired to do hair and makeup for Yearwood in 1999.

In a statement to Page Six, she vehemently denied the allegations.

“For the past two months, I have been relentlessly harassed by threats, lies, and dire stories about my future if I didn’t write a multi-million dollar check. It was as if someone was waving a loaded gun in my face,” he said.

“Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, this means that I am admitting to behavior that I am incapable of – ugly actions that no human should ever do to another.

“We filed a lawsuit against this individual almost a month ago to oppose extortion and defamation of character. We filed this anonymously for the sake of the families of both parties.

“I want to play music tonight. I want to continue our good deeds in the future. It breaks my heart that these wonderful things are now in question. I trust the system, I am not afraid of the truth and I am not the person they painted me as.

Brooks since then sued his accuser for compensation and damagesalthough he stated that money “cannot adequately compensate” for the change in his reputation.

“The defendant will not suffer any hardship as a result of an injunction for her misconduct, but the plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted,” he said in court documents.

The hitmaker also publicly named a previously unnamed woman in his filing, prompting her lawyers to threaten him with “maximum sanctions.”

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Violence Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.