A woman accuses the emerging comedian Jessy Sheehy of having sexually assaulted her twice in 2015. Depression, drug abuse, job loss, dropping out of her studies: the woman claims $ 120,000 from the artist for the “disastrous” consequences engendered by the alleged attacks.
“Would not have been […] his unacceptable behavior and [les] sexual assault committed against the plaintiff, she would not have experienced the descent into hell in recent years, “alleges LB, whose identity is protected, in a modified lawsuit filed last February at the Montreal courthouse.
If we are only publishing now, it is because following the intervention of Press and Radio-Canada, the Quebec Court of Appeal recently lifted the anonymity granted to Jessy Sheehy by the Superior Court. Note that Mr. Sheehy does not face any criminal charges.
Graduated from the National School of Humor in 2013, Jessy Sheehy has been working his way for several years in the world of humor. He has participated in the Just for Laughs evenings on tour, at the ZooFest, in addition to hosting comedy evenings in Jonquière.
A first alleged assault in 2015
Plaintiff LB claims in the petition that she met Jessy Sheehy in 2014, when she was 22 years old. At the time, she was dating a “good friend” of the comedian. Having befriended Jessy Sheehy, LB claims to have visited his home in June 2015 to discuss his romantic relationship.
It was that night that Jessy Sheehy sexually assaulted her for the first time, she alleges. LB maintains that she stayed at the comedian’s house after they had consumed cannabis and alcohol and chatted all night. Jessy Sheehy, however, had to sleep on the sofa, she says.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Comedian Jessy Sheehy, in 2013
” When [LB] settles down on the bed, [Jessy Sheehy] joined her. The defendant strokes her thighs, offering to have sex. [LB] refuses to have a sexual relationship with the defendant ”, alleges the woman.
It was then that Jessy Sheehy allegedly phoned LB’s boyfriend – a mutual friend – to ask for “permission” to have sex with LB. Following the boyfriend’s refusal, the two friends say goodnight.
“The plaintiff wakes up when [Jessy Sheehy] is lying next to her and touches her. She does not understand what is going on, he penetrates her by force and she freezes. The plaintiff is baffled; she refused to have sex with [Jessy Sheehy] and had clearly told him, ”LB alleges in the petition.
There followed a very difficult period for the young woman who claims to have “become disorganized”, while she was in a “state of psychological fragility” because of the alleged assault. She then began to use a “very large” amount of cannabis and then dropped out of school. She eventually found herself hospitalized in psychiatry.
In November 2015, LB “caused” a meeting with the comedian on the sidelines of a show to discuss the events. The woman alleges that Jessy Sheehy “tried to kiss her several times by sticking her on a stairwell wall” and had to push him away.
A second alleged assault, six months later
The second assault alleged by LB took place in December 2015, when Jessy Sheehy allegedly visited LB by mutual agreement. “Despite the repeated refusals” of LB, the comedian would have put “his hands on the breasts and on the buttocks” of the plaintiff, alleges the latter.
“With each refusal, the defendant sighs of disappointment, telling her how difficult it is to resist, because he is too eager to have sex with her,” the petition states. Faced with such “insistence”, LB offers to masturbate to “get out of this impossible situation”, she argues.
“LB felt pressured to commit sexual acts with [Jessy Sheehy] when she was not consenting and she had made it clear to him, both verbally and by her gestures, ”she alleges.
In the request, LB notably accuses Jessy Sheehy of having “ignored too many times” her refusals, of having penetrated her during her sleep and of having forced her to participate in sexual acts. This is why she is claiming $ 120,000 in damages from the artist.
Lawyers for Jessy Sheehy have indicated the comedian will not comment. At Just for Laughs, we say we ended the business relationship with the comedian in August 2020.