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Gospel Star Donnie McClurkin Sued in New York Over Yearslong Sexual Abuse Allegations

The case proceeds in Manhattan under a city statute that temporarily reopened a window for gender‑motivated abuse claims.

Overview

  • Plaintiff Giuseppe Corletto filed a civil complaint on Jan. 2 in New York County Supreme Court alleging grooming, assaults and rapes by Donnie McClurkin from roughly 2007 to 2015.
  • The lawsuit says the alleged abuse began during 'pray the gay away' sessions at Perfecting Faith Church and continued on work trips after Corletto became McClurkin’s assistant.
  • Court filings include an email the suit attributes to McClurkin after a 2013 incident, in which he allegedly called himself a "desperate dirty 'old man'" and referenced groping.
  • McClurkin, 66, denies the accusations through attorney Greg Lisi, who called the claims "categorically false" and said they mischaracterize past interactions.
  • The suit invokes New York City’s Gender‑Motivated Violence Protection Law; Corletto seeks damages, reports no action by church staff when told, and no criminal charges have been announced.