A recent lawsuit claims that Grammy-winning gospel singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin sexually assaulted a young man over a period of multiple years and apologized via email, calling himself “a dirty old man.”
When Giuseppe Corletto, victim of the assault, contacted McClurkin in 2003, he claimed he was having trouble balancing his sexual orientation with his religious beliefs. In an interview with NBC News, Corletto said that McClurkin “talked about being raped as a child, which resonated with me because that’s similar to my story.”
The accusations are “categorically false,” according to McClurkin’s lawyer, Greg Lisi, who stated that McClurkin “never engaged in any form of sexual abuse, assault, or sexual coercion of Mr Corletto.”
“I feel so foul…so stupid,” McClurkin added in the email, according to Corletto’s lawsuit, which was submitted to the state Supreme Court in Manhattan.
According to McClurkin’s 2001 book, “Eternal Victim-Eternal Victor,” he was sexually abused by an uncle when he was eight years old, which he believes led to his homosexuality.
“There are many more things that need to be done to break the curse of homosexuality,” McClurkin wrote.
Corletto claims that he connected with McClurkin’s book right away. In New York City, they were both poor children. Additionally, he claims that as a young boy, a relative sexually assaulted him as well.
According to Corletto, he started working as McClurkin’s assistant in 2004, and it took him roughly two years before McClurkin started to grope him during “pray the gay away” sessions.
Senior Lara Velasquez stated, “Given the generation we’ve lived in and the history we’ve lived through, it’s no wonder that victims oftentimes don’t feel comfortable stepping forward.”
Corletto stated in his lawsuit that the mistreatment turned into rape during business travels.
According to the lawsuit, he raped Corletto in a hotel room after forcing himself upon him.
McClurkin told Corletto that he was taking medication and didn’t remember anything when asked about the incident.
Corletto tried to quit the job multiple times, but McClurkin guilted him into staying.
He finally quit in 2008, but McClurkin continued to pursue him.
Velasquez exclaimed, “Victims speak up, not asking for pity, but for change and strength. Society fails to recognize that or even provide an environment that can fulfill that.”
Corletto claimed he didn’t discover the email McClurkin sent following the night in Niagara Falls until last year.
After years of emotional and spiritual upheaval, Corletto said the email was a comfort. “This is not something I made up. I wasn’t crazy.”
Senior Roxxanne Uy believes that “witnessing others and their bravery to speak up is something that exemplifies courage for themselves and others. People who experience such horrible acts as sexual assault can feel alone and vulnerable.”
Uy said, “Making a powerful statement to help others understand the impact this trauma is truly inspiring.”
Corletto’s attorney stated that he hopes the lawsuit will give his client closure and “some measure of justice for what happened to him.”
For Corletto, the lawsuit is more than just a legal claim; it is a public reclaiming of his own narrative. After years of uncertainty and spiritual struggle, he is formally acknowledging the harm he suffered rather than looking to his former mentor for approval.