Popular gospel singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin said recent claims of rape and sexual assault from a person who served as a private assistant at his church are “contrived and unfaithful.” Believing he “can be vindicated,” he asked for prayers for his accuser.
“Many of you’re aware of the profane allegations of sexual assault/rape and coercion which were recently lodged against me. I need to state clearly and unequivocally that these allegations are contrived and unfaithful!” the Grammy Award-winning “We Fall Down” singer, who has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, wrote in a statement posted on social media Wednesday.
“I understand the load of such false claims, especially in our community rooted in faith, trust, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. And Sexual violence, in any form, is an actual and painful reality for a lot of and never for use frivolously.”
McClurkin, 66, who built a ministry and church on his testimony of being delivered from a lifetime of abuse and homosexuality, was accused in a lawsuit filed within the Supreme Court of the State of New York last Friday of repeatedly sexually assaulting and raping 43-year-old Giuseppe Corletto starting when the accuser was about 21.
In addition to being a former member of McClurkin’s Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, Corletto says he was also employed as McClurkin’s personal assistant when a number of the alleged assaults occurred.
In his statement on Wednesday, McClurkin claimed that Corletto isn’t the “survivor” he presents himself to be.
“True Survivors need to be heard, protected, and supported! At the identical time, the TRUTH matters! And the TRUTH has not been told! And though I do know many have already formed their opinions based on initial belief and controversy as we’re apt to do with something of this false nature … I ask that this community exercises patience and trust in God’s timing for the reality to completely come to light,” McClurkin said.
“I even have all the time sought to conduct myself with integrity, transparency, godly care, and responsibility within the achievement of my Christian life and duties. This accusation of salacious engagement or ANY misconduct that harmed, exploited, or took advantage of anyone and misused my position, leadership, or influence in any way in these false accusations is emphatically unfaithful.”
In his lawsuit, Corletto claims he first attended McClurkin’s church in August 2003, when he was just 21, after reading the singer’s 2001 book, Eternal Victim, Eternal Victor. In the book, McClurkin shares his testimony about being delivered from homosexuality.
Corletto claims he sought out McClurkin’s ministry for “guidance” because he was “battling the acceptance of his sexuality in light of his religious beliefs.” The filing claims that Corletto became a goal for grooming and predation by McClurkin and at the least one other member of his team, who began making sexual advances inside three weeks of Corletto beginning to attend the church.
“After the service on or about August 3, 2003, plaintiff was delivered to meet defendant MCCLURKIN, who prayed with him and warranted him that defendant would help deliver him from homosexuality,” the lawsuit notes. “Shortly thereafter, one in all defendant’s ministers, who confessed to plaintiff that he, too, was battling his homosexuality, began persistently contacting plaintiff, showing as much as plaintiff’s home unannounced, and even making sexual advances toward plaintiff.”
Corletto said he considered leaving the church after the sexual advances until he was directly contacted by McClurkin, who reassured him that the harassing minister was being “handled” and that the sexual harassment was only a “test from God,” which he passed.
He subsequently developed a mentor-mentee relationship with McClurkin and was soon hired because the gospel star’s personal assistant.
The mentor-mentee relationship would later develop into confusing for the young Corletto. He claims McClurkin began groping his genitals “without his consent” during “‘pray the gay away’ spiritual sessions.”
“Plaintiff struggled to process these incidents of sexual abuse, as defendant was each his mentor and employer, making it difficult for him to talk out concerning the abuse he had suffered,” the lawsuit notes.
Corletto further alleged in graphic detail multiple instances over the subsequent decade of McClurkin forcing him to interact in sexual acts against his will. These include an encounter at a hotel in Niagara Falls, New York, on June 28, 2013.
Corletto claims that after that incident, McClurkin wrote him an email apologizing for his behavior wherein he described himself as “the actual epitome of a desperate dirty ‘old man.’”
“I need to apologize for all of my behavior that has been flawed and put you in a flawed place I’m the actual epitome of a desperate dirty ‘old man’ … pawning and groping a young man who’s just on the lookout for a friendship and shut plutonic relationship with someone he wants looks to for help, guidance and spirituality,” McClurkin allegedly wrote in a replica of the e-mail shared within the lawsuit.
“I used to be attempting to go to a realm of sexuality that wasn’t right and wasn’t right FOR YOU~! (or me, for that matter). I feel so foul … so silly. I’m sufficiently old to be your father and wish to be something else to you. you [sic]do not have that desire for me and I shouldn’t have it for you,” it continues. “I forced myself on you … groping on you … and once I give it some thought … you never really touched me like that in any respect …. just desired to sleep together and hug occasionally. … I’m really embarrassed at how I’m and the way I acted.”
The lawsuit further states that Corletto returned to McClurkin’s church in November 2015 to hunt guidance while he “was experiencing mental health struggles,” and he claims to have been assaulted again.
“Therein, Defendant MCCLURKIN engaged in further sexual misconduct against Plaintiff, making the most of Plaintiff’s vulnerability and currently fragile mental state,” the lawsuit adds.
In his statement on Wednesday, McClurkin asked his greater than 2 million Facebook followers to hope for him and his accuser while insisting he could be vindicated.
“My love for and walk with Christ means the whole lot to me and is deeply sensitive and sacred. … I live to please Him … which is why it is crucial that the facts be established rigorously, responsibly, and fairly. Although I even have NOT yet been SERVED with the official legal grievance, I’m proactively cooperating fully with the suitable processes and can vigorously defend to the fullest against this defamatory and baseless lawsuit. I’m confident that when the reality is fully known, I can be vindicated,” he said. “Please pray for the accuser, as well … seriously and sincerely! I thank everyone for his or her continued prayers, support, and faith. God bless you all.”
Responding to the query of why he’s just now coming forward together with his claims against McClurkin after greater than 20 years, Corletto said it was not until he found “communications” from 2013 that the “full scope of the situation became clear.”
“Seeking justice is a deeply personal and difficult journey. For a few years, I carried the load of my experiences in silence, specializing in my mental health and my life. It was only RECENTLY, upon the invention of specific, documented communications from 2013, that the complete scope of the situation became clear and the trail to legal accountability became possible,” Corletto wrote on Facebook.
“The ‘WHY NOW’ is easy: the reality has its own timing. While I cannot discuss the precise details of the continued litigation right now, I’m standing firm in my truth and searching forward to the legal process bringing this matter to a just conclusion. I appreciate those that have offered their support and ask for respect and kindness and privacy if that is possible, as I give attention to this journey toward healing and accountability.”
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