Elton John Fires Back at Sexual Harassment Accusations

Attorney for singer calls lawsuit filed by former security guard “baseless”

Getty Images

Elton John is firing back at accusations that he groped and sexually harassed a former security guard.

In a statement provided to TheWrap, Orin Snyder, U.S. attorney for John’s Rocket Entertainment Group, called the claims made in a lawsuit by Jeffrey Wenninger “patently untrue.”

Snyder also claimed that Wenninger is a “disgruntled” former employee who’s “seeking to extract an undeserved payment.”

“This baseless lawsuit is brought by a disgruntled former security officer seeking to extract an undeserved payment. These claims are patently untrue and contradicted by numerous previous statements made by this plaintiff,” Snyder said. “We will not give into his latest abuse of the legal system.”

In a lawsuit filed Monday, Wenninger claimed that “Rocket Man” singer John touched him inappropriately on multiple occasions.

In one such alleged instance in March 2014, the lawsuit says, John “touched Plaintiff by placing his hand in Plaintiff’s pants, next to Plaintiff’s body, while trying to force his fingers between Plaintiff’s buttock cheeks, and attempting to grab Plaintiff’s genitals both over and under his clothing.”

During another alleged instance, the lawsuit claims, John twisted Wenninger’s nipples and told him, “You have so many gay genes in you, they just haven’t met up yet.”

As a result of the alleged encounters, Wenninger said he has suffered from a litany of issues, including “physical, mental and emotional injuries, pain, distress, suffering, anguish, fright, nervousness, grief, anxiety, worry, shame [and] mortification.”

Wenninger alleges sexual battery, sexual battery and sexual harassment in his suit.

Comments