Brian Evans, a former crooner and political candidate with deep Las Vegas ties, is now embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with Carrot Top following allegations and denials of blackmail involving explicit material
The Las Vegas Strip has seen its share of drama, but the dispute between Brian Evans and Scott Thompson—better known as Carrot Top—stands out for its mix of entertainment, legal claims, and personal history. Evans, a singer with a long Vegas background, is now in the news not for his music, but for his involvement in a federal lawsuit and a series of public accusations.
Evans denies any attempt to blackmail Thompson. He has been part of the Las Vegas scene since the late 1990s, performing as the house crooner at the Desert Inn’s Starlight Lounge until 2000. During that time, he recorded the album "Live at the Desert Inn" and sang standards six nights a week. The venue was later replaced by Wynn and Encore.
Legal battle follows years of working together
The current legal fight began after years of professional collaboration. Evans and Thompson worked together during Carrot Top’s Luxor residency, teaming up on music videos and live shows. Evans opened for Thompson at the Atrium Showroom and on tour. They also recorded two music videos: "Creature at the Bates Motel" in 2015 and "Beautiful Game" in 2021, which featured Ice-T and Lou Diamond Phillips. According to a Complex report, their partnership lasted several years and included both stage and studio work.
The relationship fell apart in July, when Evans filed a lawsuit against Thompson in federal court in Florida. Evans accused Thompson of sending him an unsolicited sexually explicit video involving someone "significantly younger" than Thompson. Evans said he was "shocked, disturbed and offended" by the video. The two later signed a settlement agreement in 2024, which mentioned future professional help and entertainment opportunities. Recently, Evans has tried to challenge the validity of that agreement, saying his mental state after the 2023 Maui wildfires affected his ability to sign the contract, as reported by Marca and other outlets.
Allegations and denials shape the case
The legal filings did not end the conflict. In September, Thompson’s attorney in Orlando claimed that Evans threatened to introduce sexually explicit recordings of Thompson into court, which could have made the material public. The filing says Evans emailed that he would settle the matter for $500,000, referencing a demand for "Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in immediately available funds." Evans told TMZ, "I never threatened — ever — to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement." He has not responded to further requests for comment. Evans has also denied any wrongdoing related to the alleged extortion and rejected claims that he contributed to Thompson’s mental health struggles, as summarized in recent Yahoo Entertainment coverage.
The case drew more attention after reports that Thompson attempted suicide at his Las Vegas home. The incident brought renewed focus to both entertainers and their past collaborations. According to a RadarOnline legal update, the federal case in the Southern District of Florida was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on August 6, 2026, after the court denied emergency relief. This means the case was closed without a final ruling, but Evans could refile.
After the dismissal, reports indicated that the dispute continued in Broward County court. As of late September 2026, there was no finding of liability against Thompson, and new allegations remained unproven, according to IBTimes UK and other outlets.
Evans’ Las Vegas and political background
Evans’ career has often shifted direction. Beyond his time at the Desert Inn, he has opened for acts like Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, Frankie Valli, and Burt Bacharach. He also worked with William Shatner, who appeared in Evans’ 2013 video "At Fenway." After moving to Maui, Evans ran for Congress four times, switching between Democratic and Republican tickets, and made two unsuccessful runs for the U.S. Senate. The Honolulu Civil Beat once described him as "a gay, anti-Trump, pro-abortion rights Republican."
Evans announced plans in 2019 to return to performing in Las Vegas, but has not started a new residency or show in the city since. His most recent projects include a 2021 video filmed in Bogotá, Colombia, where he performed "New York, New York"—which he described as the first by an American crooner in Colombia.
Las Vegas entertainment under scrutiny
This legal dispute has put a spotlight on the unpredictable mix of entertainment, personal relationships, and public attention on the Las Vegas Strip. The city is known for reinvention, but the Evans-Thompson case shows that its entertainment world is not immune to personal and legal troubles. For Las Vegas, the story is less about celebrity scandal and more about the complicated realities behind the scenes, where reputations and careers can change quickly. The Strip will move on, but the effects of this case are likely to linger in the city’s entertainment memory.
