Explosive Lawsuit: The Last of Us Star Ashley Johnson Takes Legal Action Against Her Ex-Boyfriend

Highlights

Ashley Johnson, known for her role in The Last of Us, has initiated legal proceedings against her former partner, Brian Wayne Foster, accusing him of engaging in multiple instances of misconduct such as sexual assault and verbal mistreatment.

Six other women are backing Johnson's lawsuit, which adds fresh accusations of Foster's supposed predatory conduct, such as sexual assault and harassment of Critical Role employees. Critical Role Productions claims to be unaware of these incidents, yet they stand in solidarity with the victims. Johnson's lawsuit aims to secure a permanent protective order, financial reparation, and punitive damages.

Ashley Johnson, the star of The Last of Us, has filed a lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, Brian Wayne Foster, citing multiple instances of abuse. The complaint, which is also supported by six other women, comes after Johnson previously obtained a restraining order against Foster.

Johnson and Foster began their relationship in 2012, a few years before their popular Dungeons and Dragons series, Critical Role, began live-streaming. They became engaged in 2018 but ultimately ended their relationship in March 2023. Two months later, Johnson was granted an emergency protective order after testifying about numerous "acts of terror" committed by her former fiance towards her and her family. The legal filing accuses Foster of sexual assault, property damage, verbal abuse, and attempting to extort $150,000 from Johnson, among other offenses.

Johnson and six other women have filed a civil lawsuit against Foster with the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, according to ComicBook. The lawsuit, as stated in a copy of the complaint dated October 3, not only repeats the allegations of abuse outlined in the May restraining order but also introduces new claims of Foster engaging in a pattern of predatory behavior. This behavior allegedly includes instances of sexual assault and harassment directed towards two other employees of Critical Role. Additionally, the complaint alleges that Foster acquired a garotte and Airsoft guns following his separation from Johnson, and further accuses him of stalking the star of The Last of Us by taking control of her home security cameras.

Critical Role Productions denied any knowledge of the incidents outlined in the lawsuit. In a statement provided to ComicBook, the LA-based company expressed their full commitment to supporting the victims and described their experiences as "heartbreaking." The production studio acknowledged the controversy by stating that they are currently reviewing their culture and workplace conditions. This comes after Critical Role removed multiple videos featuring Foster from their official YouTube channel, potentially in response to Johnson's restraining order against him.

The lawsuit's goal is to obtain a permanent protective order, requiring Foster to never contact Johnson or her family, and prohibiting him from approaching her. It also seeks financial compensation and punitive damages for the reported abuse inflicted on the victims by the former host of Critical Role show Talks Machina. Johnson, who recently reprised her role as Ellie in The Last of Us, previously claimed that her ex-boyfriend's abusive behavior often stemmed from substance abuse. Foster promptly denied these allegations upon receiving the restraining order in May.

Stateside civil cases typically take several years to reach the trial phase. Nonetheless, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts states that the vast majority of these disputes are settled or resolved through a judicial order before reaching this stage. ComicBook, U.S. Courts Administrative Office.