On 5th January 2026, news broke that Donnie McClurkin, the Grammy‑winning gospel singer and longtime pastor, was being sued in a civil court over allegations of sexual abuse spanning many years. The story has quickly become one of the most talked‑about and controversial developments in current music and faith news, not just because of McClurkin’s fame, but because of the details outlined in the court filing and the passionate denials from his legal team.
This is not a criminal charge. So far, only a civil lawsuit has been filed in the New York Supreme Court, based on a report by People, and nothing has been proven in court so far.
The Lawsuit and What It Alleges
The lawsuit, obtained by People, was filed on Friday, Jan. 2, and names Donnie McClurkin, now 66, as the defendant. The plaintiff is identified in court papers as Giuseppe Corletto, who says he first met McClurkin in 2003 at McClurkin’s church on Long Island, New York. Corletto claims he attended a church event after reading McClurkin’s book in which McClurkin wrote about his own struggles with sexuality and how faith helped him, and that this connection initially drew him to McClurkin.
Corletto alleges that what started as what he believed were mentorship and spiritual counseling sessions eventually became something much darker. The complaint claims McClurkin encouraged Corletto to engage in what are described in the lawsuit as “pray the gay away” sessions, terminology linked to controversial religious attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation. It is during some of those sessions that McClurkin allegedly inappropriately groped and abused him without consent.
Further details in the lawsuit, obtained by People, say that what Corletto characterizes as abuse continued over a period of years, including during times when Corletto was working as McClurkin’s personal assistant.
According to the civil complaint, as reported by NBC News, the alleged mistreatment did not happen in just one place or at one time, but in a series of settings linked to Mr. Corletto’s work with McClurkin. The filing says some of the incidents took place in hotels while Mr. Corletto was traveling on business for McClurkin, and that others happened at McClurkin’s church.
In the court papers, the lawsuit describes an encounter during a 2007 trip to California. The complaint says McClurkin had brought his then‑girlfriend along on the trip and that, later in the trip, McClurkin allegedly forced himself on Mr. Corletto in a hotel room.
The filing also states that, when Mr. Corletto later spoke with McClurkin about what happened, McClurkin told him that he had been taking medication at the time and did not remember the events described. The lawsuit further recounts another alleged incident in 2013 at a hotel in Niagara Falls.
The complaint also includes a purported email from McClurkin that Corletto says shows McClurkin admitting wrongdoing. As NBC News notes, the email allegedly included in the filing contains a statement in which, according to the complaint, McClurkin referred to himself in a way his accuser interpreted as an admission of guilt. That message has not been independently verified, but it remains part of the legal document.
Corletto’s lawsuit claims the alleged actions caused him emotional distress, physical suffering, and a loss of enjoyment of life, and he is asking for unspecified compensatory damages, legal fees, and a jury trial.
McClurkin’s Response and Denials
Immediately after the lawsuit came to light, McClurkin’s legal team issued a stark denial. His attorney, Gregory S. Lisi, released a statement calling the allegations “categorically false” and saying they “grossly mischaracterize” McClurkin’s interactions with Corletto.
According to that statement, McClurkin “did not engage in any form of sexual abuse, assault, or sexual coercion,” and the claims, which refer to events that allegedly took place over a span of roughly a decade or more, misrepresent the relationship between McClurkin and his former assistant, his attorney says.
McClurkin himself has not directly commented on the lawsuit beyond his attorney’s statement, and because the case is now active litigation, his legal team has said he will not be offering further public comment at this time.
What Makes This Case Notable
Donnie McClurkin is not just any singer. He is a towering figure in contemporary gospel music, with multiple Grammy Awards, millions of albums sold, and a career that spans decades. His songs, like “Stand” and “We Fall Down,” are staples in many churches, and he has been a visible public figure in both music and ministry since the 1990s.
He has also been known for his outspoken religious views, particularly around sexuality and faith, including comments in the past that have drawn praise in some conservative Christian circles and criticism from LGBTQ advocates. That background is part of why this lawsuit has drawn so much attention so quickly.
The lawsuit is being viewed by some legal analysts as part of a broader trend of civil claims seeking accountability in situations where criminal charges can no longer be filed due to the passage of time or statute-of-limitations constraints. Civil court allows plaintiffs to seek damages and a public airing of claims even when the window for criminal prosecution has closed.
Part of what has caught the public’s attention is the way McClurkin’s former assistant is described as having first approached him seeking spiritual guidance because he was struggling with his sexuality and his faith. The lawsuit says, as NBC News highlights, Corletto resonated with McClurkin’s own recounting of having overcome same‑sex attraction, which initially drew him into McClurkin’s church and mentorship.
The complaint says McClurkin used his spiritual authority and role as a mentor in ways Corletto alleges were manipulative and abusive. Those are the core allegations, and they are now being tested in civil court.
Stories like this touch on deeply personal and painful subjects, such as sexual abuse, spiritual authority, trust, and betrayal. They affect real people on both sides: the plaintiff who says he suffered harm, and the defendant who faces public allegations while denying them.
Because the case is unresolved, this article does not draw conclusions about guilt or innocence. The bottom line is that a civil lawsuit has been filed with serious allegations, McClurkin’s legal team has denied them and called them false, and the matter is now in the hands of the courts.