Composer Danny Elfman denies sexual abuse allegations in response to second lawsuit

The Oscar-nominated musician claims that the new lawsuit was "maliciously filed" to extort and embarrass him.

Oscar-nominated composer Danny Elfman is denying accusations of sexual abuse leveled against him in a new lawsuit that he claims was "maliciously filed" in an effort to embarrass him and extort settlement money.

In an answer filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court and reviewed by EW, Elfman 70, said he "committed no sexual abuse, made no inappropriate advances, and never inappropriately touched" his accuser.

Elfman's response came two and a half weeks after an anonymous woman identified as Jane Doe XX, now 47, filed a complaint alleging that between 1997 and 2002, the musician frequently exposed himself to her and masturbated beside her while she slept. She is suing Elfman and his company, Musica de la Muerta, for sexual assault, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment, and negligence.

Elfman's answer denied that he masturbated in Doe XX's presence, and added that such conduct "even if it were true, which it is not — would not constitute a sexual assault." The Beetlejuice and Good Will Hunting composer further denied allegations that he "groomed" his accuser, with his answer saying, "Plaintiff's Complaint specifically states that she was an adult at the time of the alleged conduct."

The complaint, Elfman's filing said, "was maliciously filed by Plaintiff and her attorneys, without any valid basis in fact or law, for the improper purpose of embarrassing Mr. Elfman and extorting settlement money."

Representatives for Elfman declined to comment further.

Doe XX's complaint arrived three months after a Rolling Stone investigation revealed that composer Nomi Abadi had previously accused Elfman of exposing himself and sexually harassing her in 2017, prior to entering an $830,000 settlement and non-disclosure agreement. The outlet cited a 2017 police report in which Abadi, then 30, said that over the course of a year, Elfman masturbated in front of her multiple times without her consent.

Elfman denied the claims to Rolling Stone, saying in a statement that he had "done nothing indecent or wrong."

On Tuesday, Doe XX responded to Elfman's answer by posting an open letter detailing her allegations against him. Her attorney Jeff Anderson also said in a statement, "Elfman messed with the wrong young women. He used his power to have his perverse ways with Jane Doe XX and Nomi Abadi. These women have the power and truth now, and we proudly stand with them."

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