Danny Elfman Reportedly Sued by Composer for Failing to Pay

After that initial statement, a representative for Elfman told Rolling Stone that the original settlement was a reaction to the #MeToo movement and Elfman and Abadi’s “limited interactions, which did not involve sexual contact, were fully consensual.” The representative’s statement continued:

When faced with threats from the other party to go public with untruths at the height of the #MeToo movement, [Elfman] faced the impossible choice between settling and continuing his career and earning a living for his family or deciding to fight what at the time was an unwinnable battle to tell the truth—Danny chose his family. It is disappointing, but sadly not surprising, that this baseless narrative would be revived now that the payments have stopped. Accusations alone should not and do not equate to guilt, and Danny will defend himself and clear his name with the volume of evidence and the other party’s own words—her words speak for themselves.

Abadi’s attorney, Jeff Anderson, shared a brief statement with Rolling Stone, too: “It is ironic that Mr. Elfman’s current statements are directly contrary to the position he maintained in the underlying dispute and to the evidentiary record.”

Days before the 2023 Grammy Awards, Abadi spoke at a February press conference as a Recording Academy member and an advocate for the Female Composer Safety League, a nonprofit group she founded in 2020 to work toward “a composing industry free from sexual abuse, harassment, prejudice, and marginalization.” Rolling Stone notes that, during her speech, Abadi claimed that she didn’t vote for this year’s awards after viewing the list of Grammy nominees because it included abusers. She did not name Elfman in her speech, but he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his arrangement work. Abadi also reportedly called for the end of nondisclosure agreements that stop alleged victims of sexual misconduct from speaking out.

Abadi reportedly stipulated during an original settling period with Elfman that, in addition to personal payments, select funds should go toward establishing a charitable organization to help female composers. Two years after the settlement was set in motion, Abadi founded the Female Composer Safety League.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support:

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
http://www.rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)

Crisis Text Line
SMS: Text “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Abadi is a graduate of Juilliard. Abadi auditioned for Juilliard, and then began professional training in classical piano at age 8, attending the Mannes School of Music (now the New School). She also studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

This article was originally published on Thursday, July 20 at 9:35 a.m. Eastern. It was last updated on July 20 at 8:39 p.m. Eastern.

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