Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse in California Have Limited Time to Take Legal Action
(Los Angeles, CA) – Today, the court provided legal approval to identify Steven Tyler as a defendant in a lawsuit filed under the California Child Victims Act alleging child sexual abuse.
The lawsuit was filed last month by Julia Misley (formerly known as Holcomb) and accuses Tyler of sexual assault, coercion of an abortion, and involuntary infamy. We continue to stand with and praise Julia Misley for her courageous actions and commitment to exposing dangerous crimes taking place across the entertainment industry.
Steven Tyler’s celebrity exploits an adoring teenage fan for his sexual gratification. Statutory rape calling it “romance.” Romanticizing abuse in plain sight.
In approximately 1973, Julia attended an Aerosmith concert in Portland, Oregon. Following the concert, Julia was invited backstage by agents of Steven Tyler. At the time of their first introduction, Julia had just turned 16, and Tyler was believed to be 25 years old. (See page 4 of lawsuit)
Tyler showed immediate interest in Julia and eventually invited Julia back to his hotel room. During their conversation at the hotel, Tyler inquired about Julia’s age, where her parents were, and why she was out all evening alone – Julia then informed Tyler of the struggles she was facing at home and in her personal life. That evening, Tyler sexually abused Julia. The following morning, Tyler invited and provided a plane ticket for Julia to travel to Seattle for Aerosmith’s next concert. Following the concert that evening, Julia again stayed with Tyler in a hotel room where she was sexually assaulted. (See page 4 of lawsuit)
After the Aerosmith concert in Seattle, Tyler pursued Julia by frequently calling her at home and continued to convince Julia to visit him. In an attempt to convince Julia to spend more time with him, Tyler informed her that he wrote a song for her, recorded it with his band, and wished she would visit the recording studio so he could sing it to her. (See page 5 of lawsuit)
Once Julia finished her sophomore high school year, Tyler convinced Julia to travel to Boston to stay with him. During the stay, Tyler informed Julia that he did not want her to return to Portland, Oregon, for school because he wanted her to stay with him and continue to travel with his band. During this time, Julia was a minor and continued to be sexually abused by Tyler. Julia was powerless to resist Tyler’s fame and significant financial ability and believed that she was involved in a “romantic love Affair.” (See page 5 of lawsuit)
The cover-up of criminal conduct to avoid prosecution. Legal maneuvers to create a guardianship to avoid the law, done by industry executives and lawyers to protect Tyler from criminal prosecution.
In approximately 1974, Tyler took action to become Julia’s legal guardian, so it would be easier to travel with Julia and avoid legal prosecution. Tyler met with Julia’s mother and convinced her to sign over the guardianship of Julia. Tyler promised, convinced, and assured Julia’s mother that Julia would continue her schooling, he would support her, and he could provide Julia with better medical care than her mother could at the time. Tyler did not follow through on his promises and continued to travel with, sexually assault, and provide drugs and alcohol to Julia. (See page 5 of lawsuit)
Tyler impregnates teenager, in the name of love and promises of marriage.
In approximately 1975, Julia became pregnant because of the continued sexual abuse by Tyler – causing Tyler to simultaneously be both the father of Julia’s child and her legal guardian. Because Tyler was the sole source of income and overall support for Julia, he remained in a position of power. Tyler informed Julia she could not receive prenatal medical care because he feared he would “get in trouble” for fathering the child. Julia continued following the instructions and commands of Tyler, who continued to woo Julia with thoughts of marriage, and informed her that he wrote another song inspired by her. (See page 5 of lawsuit)
Tyler and agents realize the risk of scandal. Coerce and threaten Julia to abort their baby over her protestation.
In approximately the fall of 1975, while Tyler was touring with his band, he left Julia, who was pregnant at the time, home alone in his Massachusetts apartment with little food, money and without transportation. While Julia was in the Massachusetts apartment alone, a fire occurred in the apartment and Julia lost consciousness from smoke inhalation. Julia regained consciousness in a Catholic hospital where Tyler was present. The medical staff informed Julia that she would recover fully, and the unborn child was unharmed. (See pages 5 & 6 of lawsuit)
Following the fire, and while Julia was still in the hospital, Tyler and his manager pressured and coerced Julia to have an abortion by threatening to stop supporting her, and sending her back to her family in Portland, Oregon. Tyler and his agents arranged for the abortion to be performed at a non-Catholic facility, forcing Julia to move facilities while pregnant and recovering from the trauma and effects of the apartment fire she endured. Shortly after Tyler and his manager forced Julia to move facilities, the abortion was performed. (see page 6 of lawsuit)
After Julia rebuilds her life, with her husband and six children, Steve Tyler and his agents publish his story for profit, which subjects Julie to “involuntary infamy” and public scorn. Requiring Julia to disclose to her family and community what she had hoped was buried in her past. (See pages 6, 7, and 8 of lawsuit)
Julia Misley has courageously acted and stood up for herself and other survivors who have been abused in the predatory music industry. We stand in support with Julia and highlight the five traumas she has endured:
- Statutory rape and sexual assault (see pages 4 & 5 of lawsuit)
- Coercion of guardianship under false pretense (see page 5 of lawsuit)
- Impregnating Julie under the guise of love, care, and marriage (see pages 5 & 6 of lawsuit)
- Coercion and requiring an abortion under threats (see page 6 of lawsuit)
- Involuntarily, without consent publishing books and materials that inflict involuntary infamy (see pages 6,7 and 8 of lawsuit)
“Julia’s story told in this heartbreaking lawsuit is a tale of five horrors inflicted by the defendant. This industry, and these defendants have permitted, protected, and profited from severe violence for decades,” said Jeff Anderson. “It’s time to face the music. It’s time for reckoning. Gratitude to Julia and the other courageous survivors who took action under the California Child Victims Act. Now, adult survivors of sexual abuse can act under the California Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, giving voice and power to adult victims of assault. The clarion call to the predators and those in the industry that protect them – YOUR TIME IS UP.”
Statement of Julia Misley (Holcomb)
My name is Julia Misley, formerly Julia Holcomb. I am making this statement because, at the age of 65, I have discovered that through a recent change in the law, I have a new opportunity to take legal action against those that abused me in my youth. I want this action to expose an industry that protects celebrity offenders, to cleanse and hold accountable an industry that both exploited and allowed me to be exploited for years, along with so many other naïve and vulnerable kids and adults.
Because I know that I am not the only one who suffered abuse in the music industry, I feel it is time for me to take this stand and bring this action, to speak up and stand in solidarity with the other survivors. I hope that from this action, we can make the music industry safer, expose the predators in it, and expose those forces in the industry that have both enabled and created a culture of permissiveness and self-protection of themselves and the celebrity offenders among them.
The complaint that has been prepared by my legal team recites in legal terms the trajectory of my life from early struggles to exploitation by Steven Tyler, the music industry, my escape from that world, my recovery and transformation, my restoration of spirit through faith, the building of a family and the rebuilding of my life. The complaint also recites how Tyler, for profit and more fame, retraumatized me and my family. I am grateful for this new opportunity to take action and be heard.
My own recovery came through my Catholic faith. For years, I have watched Jeff Anderson and his firm make a difference in creating a safer place in the Roman Catholic Church and in faith communities across this country. I have been able to see how things within the Church have improved because of those legal efforts. I recently learned that the law in California opened a window of opportunity for me and other survivors to bring action and to have our voices heard in a way we hadn’t before and that led me to Jeff Anderson and his team. I believe that together we can make a difference, my voice can be heard and become a part of the cleansing of an industry that needs to be both exposed and held accountable.
I am publicly releasing this statement with the intention of making no further statements or interviews. Please contact by legal team, Jeff Anderson & Associates with questions and requests.
“Tyler’s actions were inexcusable, even though he operated in an industry that tolerated and continues to tolerate inexcusable behavior. This lawsuit is about putting the industry on notice that justice is coming.” – Karen Barth Menzies
We encourage all adult survivors of sexual abuse in California to take legal action under the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act (AB 2777), which allows survivors who were sexually assaulted as adults a chance to take legal action. We urge all survivors, no matter what age they are now, to report to law enforcement or contact us at 1.800.ITS.TIME.