Ashley Johnson (The Last of Us) is suing her ex-boyfriend, Brian Foster (Critical Role), for alleged sexual battery, alleged intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleged stalking, and other charges, according to Deadline. In addition to Johnson, six other women joined the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Deadline reports the lawsuit was filed following years of alleged chronic substance misuse and an alleged pattern of alleged abusive behavior against women.
According to Deadline, the lawsuit claims Foster allegedly threatened to extort Johnson by releasing personal information. She alleges she faced consistent acts of physical intimidation including but not limited to Foster allegedly punching through glass, allegedly throwing objects, and allegedly screaming obscenities at her face. Johnson is joined by her sister, Haylie Langseth, in suing Foster for alleged sexual assault, claiming she was allegedly harassed and allegedly groped by the defendant. She also claims Foster allegedly smelled of alcohol in front of her children at a family event.
Brian Freedman, Johnson’s attorney, released a statement to Deadline: “The police officer who reviewed the evidence was so concerned for Ashley Johnson’s safety that he went on his own to a judge to get an immediate emergency protective order against Brian W. Foster. Since then, six additional women have come forward. This lawsuit is filed to both remedy the abuse Foster has inflicted on my seven clients as well as to prevent others from being victimized by Foster’s pattern of mental, emotional, and physical abuse.”
Johnson is well known for her voice acting work in the popular PlayStation video game The Last of Us, which was adapted into television series on MAX last year. Johnson, who voices Ellie in the video game, made a cameo in the series’ first season playing Ellie’s mother, via Deadline. Johnson is also a cast member with Critical Role.
Foster is best known for his work with Critical Role, hosting and producing weekly web series entitled Talks Machina before his departure in 2021. In July of this year, Foster’s videos and likeness were removed from Critical Role’s YouTube channel following the news of the allegations.
Linked here is the complaint about the alleged domestic violence, alleged intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleged sexual battery, alleged assault, alleged stalking, alleged gender violence, alleged Ralph’s civil rights act violation, and alleged interference with civil rights charges against Foster.