Jimmie Allen revealed he contemplated suicide following the sexual abuse allegations against him last year as a way to financially provide for his family.
In May 2023, the country music artist’s former manager, identified only as Jane Doe, alleged he raped and sexually abused her several times. In a statement released at the time, Allen claimed the two had a consensual sexual relationship that lasted for two years.
“It is deeply troubling and hurtful that someone I counted as one of my closest friends, colleagues and confidants would make allegations that have no truth to them whatsoever. I acknowledge that we had a sexual relationship,” his statement read. “During that time, she never once accused me of any wrongdoing, and she spoke of our relationship and friendship as being something she wanted to continue indefinitely. Only after things ended between us, did she hire a lawyer to reach out and ask for money, which leads me to question her motives.”
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His statement continued, noting that her allegations were false and damaging as he had worked hard to build up his career and planned to “mount a vigorous defense” against her claims to “protect my reputation.” Jane Doe has since dropped the lawsuit against him.
Allen sat down with Kathie Lee Gifford for an hour-long chat posted to his YouTube channel, where they discussed the allegations and what the artist was going through at the time. He told Gifford that he was “searching for instant gratification from women” during the affair with his former manager.
He explained that they were together all the time. They seemingly entered into an on-again, off-again situation where they’d hook up, stop hooking up and then start again when “she’d get all sad and upset.” The musician added that he knew he didn’t want a relationship with her but should’ve known that she had feelings for him.
Allen’s family has always been the most important thing to him. He has six children: three from his previous marriage to Alexis Gate (the pair separated a month before the allegations became public), one from a previous relationship and two twins who are less than a year old. Following the allegations, he was suspended from his label, booking agency and manager, and was worried about how he would be able to continue supporting his kids if he couldn’t work.
“I was sitting there, and I literally felt like the whole world had just collapsed,” he said in the conversation with Gifford. “‘Cause the first thing my brain goes to is not the career, it’s ‘How am I going to provide for my kids?'”
He continued, “It hit me. My life insurance covers suicide. I don’t feel that way now, but in that moment, when you feel like you have nothing in the midst of a society where it’s no longer innocent until proven guilty… [people think] she said this so it must be true.”
Allen revealed a text from his friend telling him that read, “Ending it isn’t the answer,” came in at the right time and saved his life. The “Make Me Want To” singer explained he went to a retreat for mental health and began going to therapy, but still struggled with thoughts of suicide. He had help from another friend, who gave him some money, which allowed him to feel like he could provide for his family in other ways.
“After a few months, I started to look at the situation different. It went from, ‘God, why is this happening to me?’ to ‘God, what am I supposed to learn?'” he said. “I went from hating her to a little bit kind of feeling bad for her, trying to understand what was going on in her life that she needed to do this. How did I not make myself available for a conversation about her feelings?”
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988.
