Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin faces a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 06, 2026, 22:28 IST
Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin faces a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse
A civil lawsuit filed in New York is claiming that the Grammy winning gospel singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin had sexually abused his whereas male personal assistant . McClurkin on his part denies the accusations through his lawyer.
TL;DR
A former assistant of Donnie McClurkin has claimed in a New York civil lawsuit that he was sexually abused by the singer from 2007 to 2015. The plaintiff points to sexual abuse, apologetic emails, and abusive behavior. McClurkin’s attorney describes the allegations as false.
Gospel singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin, who won a Grammy, is now facing a lawsuit and his accuser is the complainant who claims to have been abused during the eight years in which he worked as the singer's assistant. These court records have been made accessible to Billboard. The complaint, lodged on Friday in New York, claims persistent sexual assault, rape, and coercion by the internationally famous religious leader and asserts that McClurkin has roundly denied these claims.
Giuseppe Corletto is the one who filed the lawsuit, who states that he was a victim of McClurkin from 2007 to 2015 when he had very close relations with the singer and pastor. According to Corletto, the abuse occurred at various places in the United States including California, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York. The complaint is seeking damages that have not been listed for physical and psychological harm.
As per the filing, Corletto started attending McClurkin’s Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, in 2003 at the age of 21. At that time he was having difficulties with his sexual orientation and was asking for help from McClurkin, the one who had publicly claimed in a 2001 book that he had vanquished same sex attraction through the power of faith. The lawsuit claims that McClurkin, who was in his mid 40s, placed himself in a position of spiritual mento and later employed Corletto as his personal assistant.
Court documents state that the two traveled together for church and music related engagements. During these trips, McClurkin allegedly began sexually assaulting Corletto, including an incident in a California hotel room in 2007 in which Corletto claims he was forced to have sex. Similar allegations are described during trips to Atlantic City, Manhattan, and McClurkin’s Long Island home.
The complaint alleges that Corletto attempted to leave his position multiple times but felt pressured to remain after McClurkin allegedly told him that his spiritual purpose and personal deliverance were tied to their relationship. Corletto eventually resigned as McClurkin’s assistant in 2008, though the lawsuit claims the alleged abuse continued in later years during professional encounters.
One piece of evidence referenced in the lawsuit is an email allegedly sent by McClurkin in 2013. In the message, McClurkin reportedly apologized for groping Corletto and described himself as a “dirty old man,” stating that he had forced himself on someone seeking friendship and spiritual guidance. The complaint lists more supposed attacks happening as late as 2015.
Corletto asserts he has endured emotional trauma, physical suffering, and loss of life’s pleasures that would not have been the case if there was no abuse.
Billy McClurkin's lawyer, Greg Lisi, rejected all accusations in a statement to Billboard. Lisi characterized the accusations as “absolutely false” and stated that they distort the truth about the long-past events. He added that McClurkin never practiced, participated in, or facilitated sexual abuse, assault, or coercion.
McClurkin, who has sold approximately 13 million albums, is among the most recognized artists in the gospel music industry and has received numerous awards including multiple Grammy, Stellar, and BET awards. The case remains a civil matter, and no criminal charges have been announced as of this reporting.
A former assistant of Donnie McClurkin has claimed in a New York civil lawsuit that he was sexually abused by the singer from 2007 to 2015. The plaintiff points to sexual abuse, apologetic emails, and abusive behavior. McClurkin’s attorney describes the allegations as false.
Gospel singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin, who won a Grammy, is now facing a lawsuit and his accuser is the complainant who claims to have been abused during the eight years in which he worked as the singer's assistant. These court records have been made accessible to Billboard. The complaint, lodged on Friday in New York, claims persistent sexual assault, rape, and coercion by the internationally famous religious leader and asserts that McClurkin has roundly denied these claims.
Giuseppe Corletto is the one who filed the lawsuit, who states that he was a victim of McClurkin from 2007 to 2015 when he had very close relations with the singer and pastor. According to Corletto, the abuse occurred at various places in the United States including California, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York. The complaint is seeking damages that have not been listed for physical and psychological harm.
As per the filing, Corletto started attending McClurkin’s Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, in 2003 at the age of 21. At that time he was having difficulties with his sexual orientation and was asking for help from McClurkin, the one who had publicly claimed in a 2001 book that he had vanquished same sex attraction through the power of faith. The lawsuit claims that McClurkin, who was in his mid 40s, placed himself in a position of spiritual mento and later employed Corletto as his personal assistant.
Court documents state that the two traveled together for church and music related engagements. During these trips, McClurkin allegedly began sexually assaulting Corletto, including an incident in a California hotel room in 2007 in which Corletto claims he was forced to have sex. Similar allegations are described during trips to Atlantic City, Manhattan, and McClurkin’s Long Island home.
The complaint alleges that Corletto attempted to leave his position multiple times but felt pressured to remain after McClurkin allegedly told him that his spiritual purpose and personal deliverance were tied to their relationship. Corletto eventually resigned as McClurkin’s assistant in 2008, though the lawsuit claims the alleged abuse continued in later years during professional encounters.
One piece of evidence referenced in the lawsuit is an email allegedly sent by McClurkin in 2013. In the message, McClurkin reportedly apologized for groping Corletto and described himself as a “dirty old man,” stating that he had forced himself on someone seeking friendship and spiritual guidance. The complaint lists more supposed attacks happening as late as 2015.
Corletto asserts he has endured emotional trauma, physical suffering, and loss of life’s pleasures that would not have been the case if there was no abuse.
Billy McClurkin's lawyer, Greg Lisi, rejected all accusations in a statement to Billboard. Lisi characterized the accusations as “absolutely false” and stated that they distort the truth about the long-past events. He added that McClurkin never practiced, participated in, or facilitated sexual abuse, assault, or coercion.
McClurkin, who has sold approximately 13 million albums, is among the most recognized artists in the gospel music industry and has received numerous awards including multiple Grammy, Stellar, and BET awards. The case remains a civil matter, and no criminal charges have been announced as of this reporting.