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Allegations of Abuse: Lawsuit Filed Against Jingle Punks and Audio Up Media Founder
In a significant legal filing, Jared Gutstadt, the founder of Jingle Punks and Audio Up Media, faces serious allegations of sexual assault from singer-songwriter and actor Mary Koons, who is known professionally as Scarlett Burke. The lawsuit claims that Gutstadt engaged in a prolonged pattern of manipulation, abuse, and exploitation against Koons over several years.
Koons filed her complaint in the Los Angeles Superior Court on December 31, outlining a series of troubling actions by Gutstadt. It is alleged that he coerced her into a sexual relationship by presenting it as an opportunity to advance her career. The lawsuit further claims that he subjected her to repeated sexual and physical assaults, isolated her from potential professional opportunities unless she complied with his demands, and threatened her when she sought to exit the relationship, resulting in significant damage to her finances and career.
The lawsuit also names Audio Up and Anthem Entertainment, Gutstadt’s former parent company, as defendants. They are accused of enabling Gutstadt’s control over Koons by exerting significant influence over her career prospects and work environment.
According to the complaint, the details of which have been reported by the Los Angeles Times, Koons met Gutstadt in 2017 when she was 27 years old. She alleges that their relationship developed into a cycle of manipulation and abuse that left her suffering from severe emotional trauma.
The timeline of the alleged abuse began shortly after their first encounter at a music venue in West Hollywood. Over subsequent months, Koons alleges that Gutstadt engaged in a calculated effort to groom her, making promises of career advancement while simultaneously exploiting their relationship. A significant incident occurred when she was urged to record a song for a Netflix project, which marked the beginning of her entrapment within Gutstadt’s manipulative control.
As per the allegations, one of the first signs of abuse manifested shortly after their professional relationship began. Gutstadt reportedly pressured Koons into a kiss that escalated into unwanted advances. Subsequent trips for professional activities turned into manipulative situations where Koons felt unsafe and was subjected to unwanted physical contact.
Koons claims that over time, she was drawn into a pattern of emotional and financial dependency on Gutstadt, which he utilized to maintain control. Allegations include instances of physical violence and coercion, which compounded the emotional distress she experienced throughout the duration of their association.
The lawsuit describes numerous disturbing events, including coerced sexual encounters and pressure to work under exploitative contracts that stripped Koons of creative rights and fair compensation for her contributions. The emotional and physical toll of these experiences, she claims, led to lasting psychological trauma, including symptoms consistent with PTSD.
Currently, Koons seeks a variety of damages from Gutstadt and the implicated companies, targeting issues related to lost income, mental anguish, and punitive damages that reflect the severity of the alleged misconduct.
As of now, there has been no public comment from representatives of Gutstadt, Audio Up, or Anthem regarding the allegations presented. This case serves as a significant reminder of the importance of addressing and redressing allegations of abuse within the entertainment industry.
Source
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