Danny Elfman, the renowned composer behind iconic movie soundtracks such as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Men in Black,” has been hit with a second sexual harassment lawsuit. The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, alleges that Elfman harassed a woman identified as Jane Doe XX between 1997 and 2002, when she was a 21-year-old film student.
The plaintiff claims that Elfman would regularly strip naked and expose himself during their meetings, and that he coerced her into doing the same. Elfman’s spokesperson has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and absurd” and stating that his legal team is “assessing all options” to defend against them.
The new lawsuit comes after pianist and composer Nomi Abadi filed a similar suit against Elfman earlier this year, alleging sexual harassment and misconduct. Abadi reportedly received an $830,000 settlement from Elfman, but sued him for failing to pay the full amount.
According to the complaint, Jane Doe XX felt unable to speak out about the harassment because she was “lucky to be in the position she was in.” She also alleges that Elfman told her he could only be creative and successful while naked.
The suit states that Elfman would regularly remove his clothing during their meetings, exposing himself to the plaintiff. She claims to have slept in his bed on numerous occasions, with Elfman masturbating next to her without her knowledge.
Elfman is in serious legal trouble
The lawsuit accuses Elfman and his company, Musica de la Muerta, of sexual assault, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment, and negligence. It was filed under the California Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which allows older claims to be revived in cases where there is evidence of institutional cover-up.
Elfman‘s reputation as a highly respected composer has been tarnished by these allegations. Fans of his work have expressed disappointment and disbelief on social media, with many calling for him to be held accountable if the accusations are proven true.
Despite the controversy, Elfman is still scheduled to appear at the Hollywood Bowl next week for “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert.”