Pastor McClurkin of Perfect Faith Church Faces Sexual Assault Allegations
The global gospel community is in a state of shock as legendary singer and Pastor Donnie McClurkin has been named in a high profile lawsuit alleging years of sexual abuse and professional misconduct. Filed on January 2, 2026, in the New York County Supreme Court, the complaint brought forward by a former personal assistant, Giuseppe Corletto, details a harrowing narrative of grooming and assault that reportedly spanned over a decade. The accuser, who first sought spiritual guidance from McClurkin in 2003 while struggling with his faith and sexuality, claims that the “Stand” singer leveraged his religious authority to perpetrate abuse under the guise of spiritual deliverance.
According to the legal documents, Corletto was 21 years old when he first met the Grammy winning artist at his church in Long Island. Having read McClurkin’s autobiography regarding his own victory over past trauma, Corletto believed the pastor could help him navigate his personal struggles. However, the lawsuit alleges that the relationship quickly turned predatory. Corletto claims that during “pray the gay away” sessions, Pastor Donnie McClurkin began molesting and groping him without consent. The abuse reportedly escalated as Corletto became McClurkin’s personal assistant, traveling with him globally while allegedly enduring repeated sexual assaults, including incidents at hotels and within the church premises itself.
The complaint includes a particularly damaging piece of evidence, an alleged 2013 email from McClurkin sent after a specific incident at a Niagara Falls hotel. In the message, the pastor reportedly apologized for his behavior, describing himself as the “actual epitome of a desperate dirty ‘old man'” and admitting to “pawning and groping a young man who is just looking for a friendship.” Corletto’s legal team argues that this admission proves a pattern of “biblical manipulation,” where the singer allegedly convinced his victim that his spiritual “purpose” and “deliverance” were tied to staying in the toxic environment, preventing him from reporting the abuse for years.
In response to the filing, legal representatives for Pastor Donnie McClurkin have issued a firm rebuttal, labeling the allegations as “categorically false.” Defense attorney Greg Lisi stated that the claims grossly mischaracterize the long standing interactions between the two men and that the pastor intends to vigorously defend his reputation in court.
Despite the denial, the lawsuit has reignited fierce debates regarding the safety of vulnerable individuals within religious institutions and the controversial practices of conversion therapy. As the case moves toward trial in early 2026, the legacy of one of gospel music’s most influential figures hangs in the balance, leaving the congregation of Perfecting Faith Church and millions of fans worldwide searching for answers.
- Pastor Donnie McClurkin Breaks Silence, Flatly Denies Sexual Assault Lawsuit
- It’s Double Joy! Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twins
- Indigenous Oil Firm AA Rano Launches Nigeria’s First Automated Fuel Stations
- Zamfara APC E-Registration: What Aminu Jaji Said About Matawalle, Yari
- Nigerian opposition politics: ADC Is Way Forward 2027 Election, Atiku Declares