Danny Elfman Sued For Failing to Pay Sexual Harassment Settlement

Each and every movie and television show made has its own music and scores that make it truly unique and memorable. There are hundreds of composers out there who work on these films, and they all have their own particular talents that make them different. Some composers stick out for their distinct sounds and style, and that’s what they become known for. One of those composers is Danny Elfman. Throughout his illustrious career, Elfman has worked on a number of hit films and shows, including The Simpsons, Wednesday, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Beetlejuice.

The iconic composer is known for his amazing scores, but he is currently battling some serious legal trouble. According to a new report from Variety, Elfman is being sued for breach of contract. This is not just any breach of contract. Variety reports that Elfman is being sued for breaching an agreement to make payments for a sexual harassment settlement.

Rolling Stone reported that Elfman was accused of harassing Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Nomi Abadi in 2015 and 2016. Abadi filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department in 2017, claiming that Elfman exposed himself and masturbated in front of her multiple times. The report, which Rolling Stone reviewed, categorized the claims as “indecent exposure.” Abadi also said that Elfman sent her a photo of something in a glass that he said was his own semen.

Elfman denied all of Abadi’s claims, and said that the photo, which was seen by several news outlets, was simply a joke. They further said that the photo was actually just lotion in the glass. He also released a statement to Rolling Stone, saying that Abadi was trying to break up his marriage because she had a childhood crush on him.

“How do I respond to accusations so serious that being innocent is not a valid defense? It is excruciating to consider that a 50-year career may be destroyed in one news cycle as a result of vicious and wholly false allegations about sexual misconduct. Ms. Abadi’s allegations are simply not true. I allowed someone to get close to me without knowing that I was her ‘childhood crush’ and that her intention was to break up my marriage and replace my wife. When this person realized that I wanted distance from her, she made it clear that I would pay for having rejected her. I allowed an ill-advised friendship to have far-reaching consequences, and that error in judgment is entirely my fault. I have done nothing indecent or wrong, and my lawyers stand ready to prove with voluminous evidence that these accusations are false. This is the last I will say on this subject.” 

Despite his denials, Elfman did agree to pay the artist a whopping $830,000. His representative said it was due to the pressure of the MeToo movement, which was whipping through the nation. Unfortunately, Abadi is back in battle with Elfman, saying that he has breached their agreement and is not paying her the money he owes.

Per their agreement, Abadi signed a non-disclosure agreement, saying that she felt she had no choice because her career would be over if she spoke out against the popular composer. However, Abadi filed a complaint against Elfman on Wednesday, July 19, in Los Angeles Superior Court, stating that Elfman had violated their agreement by not paying the full settlement. Elfman was supposed to pay the money to charities and not Abadi directly.

The complaint does not specifically mention the sexual harassment settlement, but multiple sources, who spoke to Variety, confirmed that the harassment was the root of the new filing. While Abadi’s representative, who spoke to Variety, said that Elfman would not have agreed to the payment if he was completely in the clear, Elfman’s rep sent Variety text messages to support his denials.