Steven Tyler Sexual Assault Case Dismissed
A sexual assault lawsuit filed against Steven Tyler has been dismissed, after a judge ruled the Aerosmith singer’s actions did not present “serious risk of physical injury” to the plaintiff.
The case, which followed a 2023 sexual assault lawsuit by a different woman, stemmed from an alleged incident in 1975. Model Jeanne Bellino, who was 17 at the time, claimed that Tyler, 27 years old at the time, “stuck his tongue down her throat, and put his hands upon her body, her breasts, her buttocks and her genitals, moving and removing clothing and pinning her against the wall of [a New York] phone booth.”
The Aerosmith singer allegedly rubbed his body on the girl and pretended to have sex with her while his bandmates and other members of their entourage watched and laughed. A second similar incident is said to have taken place later that day in a hotel lobby, at which point Bellino hastily left.
Bellino claimed she suffered “great pain of mind and body” and “severe and permanent emotional distress” as a result of the incident. It is also said she takes medication today “to cope with the sexual assault and has suffered long-term physical injury associated with the trauma.”
Bellino brought the case forward in November as part of New York City’s Victim of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, a law which extended the statute of limitations for certain alleged sexual assaults.
However, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan determined Bellino’s accusations did not qualify under the law because Tyler’s actions did not pose “serious risk of physical injury.”
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Tyler’s lawyers had argued that Bellino could have brought her case forward earlier under two previous state laws, the Child Victims Act and Adult Survivors Act, both of which’s windows to file claims had expired. They argued that not doing so showed a “lack of diligence” on her part. In dismissing the case, Judge Kaplan sided with the Tyler’s lawyers.
In a statement to Bravewords, Tyler’s attorney said: “We agree with the judge’s reasoning, and are grateful for this result on behalf of our client.”
TMZ notes that Bellino has until March 13 to amend and resubmit her case.
Help is available if you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault. Chat with RAINN on their online hotline or call 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673).