Jan. 6, 2026, 6:54 am ET
Grammy-winning gospel singer Donnie McClurkin has been sued by a man who claims the Perfecting Faith Church founder and senior pastor assaulted him for years.
Giuseppe Corletto alleges McClurkin – best known for the songs “Stand” and “We Fall Down” – was initially a mentor figure to him, but eventually started assaulting him in a yearslong pattern, according to a lawsuit filed Jan. 2 in New York County Supreme Court reviewed by USA TODAY on Jan. 5.
Corletto was 21 years old when he first met McClurkin at his Long Island church in August 2003, according to the lawsuit. During their meeting, Corletto says the pastor “assured him that [McClurkin] would help deliver him from homosexuality.”
Later, as McClurkin’s personal assistant, Corletto and the pastor held “pray the gay away” spiritual sessions in which McClurkin allegedly groped Corletto’s genitals without consent, according to the suit.
Corletto claims McClurkin coerced him into “further unwanted sexual acts,” from 2007 to as recently as 2015. Despite Corletto confiding in the church’s staff members about the alleged abuse, “no action was taken,” the lawsuit states.
According to Corletto, McClurkin would “coerce” him “into sexual activity” in hotel rooms, and years after Corletto resigned from the church in 2008, McClurkin allegedly tracked down his location and assaulted him twice.
Corletto “attempted to quit on multiple occasions” but was denied, according to the suit, with McClurkin allegedly “coercing him to stay” by telling Corletto “his ‘deliverance’ and ‘purpose’ were tied to” the pastor.
USA TODAY has reached out to McClurkin’s representatives for comment. NBC News was first to report on the lawsuit.
Lawyer: Donnie McClurkin sexual assault claims ‘mischaracterize’ interactions
In statements to NBC News and Billboard, McClurkin’s attorney Greg Lisi said the allegations are “categorically false.”
“At no time did Pastor McClurkin engage in any form of sexual abuse, assault, or sexual coercion of Mr. Corletto,” Lisi said, according to the outlets. “The claims set forth in the lawsuit grossly mischaracterize their interactions, which occurred over a decade, and some accusations over two decades ago.”
McClurkin rose to fame with his 1996 self-titled album, which earned a Grammy nomination and praise from Oprah Winfrey. He won his first Grammy Award in 2004 for “… Again,” which earned the best contemporary soul gospel album trophy.
His most recent win came in 2010, with McClurkin taking home the trophy for best gospel performance.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
