Gospel singer and minister Donnie Mcclurkin denies claims that he sexually abused a man in a years-long relationship.
The 66-year-old pastor was sued by Giuseppe Corletto, who alleges McClurkin was once a mentor to him before the years of abuse began.
The lawsuit was filed in New York County Supreme Court on Friday, January 2.
Corletto claims he was 21 years old when he first met McClurkin at his Perfecting Faith Church in August 2003, according to the lawsuit. During their meeting, Corletto says the pastor “assured him that he would help deliver him from homosexuality.”
Later, when Corletto became his personal assistant, Corletto said the pastor held “pray the gay away” spiritual sessions. During those sessions, he alleges that McClurkin groped his genitals without consent, according to the lawsuit.
Corletto said McClurkin coerced him into “further unwanted sexual acts,” from 2007 to 2015. When Corletto told church staff members about the alleged abuse, he said they ignored him.
McClurkin – best known for the gospel songs “Stand” and “We Fall Down” – denied the allegations in a statement from his attorney.
Attorney Greg Lisi said the allegations are “categorically false” in a statement sent to NBC News.
“At no time did Pastor McClurkin engage in any form of sexual abuse, assault, or sexual coercion of Mr. Corletto,” Lisi, said. “The claims set forth in the lawsuit grossly mischaracterize their interactions, which occurred over a decade, and some accusations over 2 decades, ago. All these allegations are contradicted by the real facts.”
McClurkin revealed his own struggle with homosexuality in an episode of TV One’s Uncensored.
The pastor said he gave up the same-sex lifestyle, which he still had desires for. He called his desires a “perversion” and a “sin,” and he compared it to diabetes: “I don’t eat sugar, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t want sugar.”
McClurkin grew up in a dysfunctional home, where he was repeatedly sexually abused by male family members.
With no one to turn to for safety and security, McClurkin sought solace in the church.
“The only thing in my life that is missing is marriage.”
The gospel singer said he was “conflicted” because men and women were attracted to him, but he secretly desired men.
“These tendencies surfaced because a broken man thrust an 8-year-old boy into this whirlwind. Thus my first sexual relationship was with a man. Before I could ever know the purpose or pleasure of a woman, have my first date or even my first kiss, the wound was inflicted, and the seed was planted.”
“I didn’t know really what a woman wanted,” McClurkin said on Uncensored. “My past relationships were a sprinkling of everything – men and women.”
The Grammy winner eventually fathered a son with an ex-girlfriend, but he didn’t have the family that he wanted.
“Honestly, the only thing in my life that is missing is marriage,” he said on Uncensored. “The only thing that is missing in my life that can cause real family, is marriage. Financially, I’m there. Spiritually, I’m almost there. Emotionally, I’m getting it together.”
McClurkin said he worries that he will be alone forever due to his latent homosexuality.
“I will probably be alone for the rest of my life as far as a mate is concerned,” he said.
Donnie McClurkin – We Fall Down
