LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Last of Us' star Ashley Johnson alleges she had to live in fear of her "sociopath" ex-fiancé Brian Wayne Foster after he was discovered to be in possession of two airsoft pistols. He reportedly also took control of her residence's surveillance cameras to monitor her comings and goings, Page Six reported.
Foster gained notoriety as the host of 'Talks Machina', a chat show where episodes of the fantasy web series 'Critical Role' were discussed.
After Johnson's protection order became known, he departed the program, and his appearance on the 'Critical Role' YouTube channel was completely removed.
Johnson has appeared on 'Critical Role' since 2015 and was a regular guest on 'Talks Machina' from 2016 to 2021.
Civil suit against Brian Foster: What is it about?
In a civil lawsuit filed against Foster in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 3, Johnson, 40, and six other women—including her own sister—accused him of domestic violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual battery and assault, and stalking.
The actress who plays Ellie Williams in the popular HBO series reportedly obtained an urgent protective order against him in May after Foster allegedly tried to blackmail her into paying him $150,000.
What did Ashley Johnson's attorney say?
According to Bryan Freedman, the attorney for Johnson and the other woman, "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," per Page Six.
Foster previously rejected the claims contained in the emergency protection order issued in May, which expired last month. A judge refused the 'Growing Pains' alum's restraining order request.
The case has now been reopened in court as a result of a new civil lawsuit filed by Johnson and six other people, according to the outlet.
It says, "Foster’s threats to extort Johnson by releasing personal information as well as his consistent acts of physical intimidation including but not limited to punching through glass, throwing objects, and screaming obscenities in her face, have left Johnson scared, intimidated, off-balance, confused, traumatized, and under constant duress for years."
According to the court documents, Johnson has a valid reason to think Foster will follow through on his threats or will harm her if she provokes him or refuses to submit to his will.
Following their breakup in March 2023, "Foster began suspiciously carrying around a large black duffel bag and an ammo case containing two airsoft guns modified to appear as real guns and a garotte which is a strangulation device."
The lawsuit also states that, "after Foster was forced to leave Johnson’s house by the police due to an Emergency Protective Order, Foster commandeered Johnson’s home security cameras and microphones to monitor her and track her comings and goings."
Brian Foster allegedly 'fueled by drugs and alcohol' in one terrible incident
According to the civil lawsuit, Foster touched Johnson's sister, Haylie Langseth, in front of her children while "fueled by drugs and alcohol" and made "wildly inappropriate and unwanted sexual comments" to her.
Foster is also accused of abusing women who "he lied to and groomed while still in a relationship with Johnson," claims the lawsuit, which also alleges that Foster used his fame as leverage for his abuse.
According to the lawsuit, he pretended to be dating Johnson openly in order to entice women into surrendering to his impolite sexual overtures.
"Being the sociopath that he is, Foster often treated these women as sexual objects freely groping them without consent, sometimes in openly public settings. Any woman who refused to submit to his will or who confronted him for any reason was met with a wrath of obscenities, intimidation, and threats."
