Composer Nomi Abadi has filed a defamation lawsuit against her former mentor Danny Elfman, stemming from comments he made to Rolling Stone in 2023 regarding her previous allegations of sexual assault against him.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Elfman of spreading false information to discredit Abadi and protect his own reputation. According to the lawsuit, Elfman’s remarks to Rolling Stone were intended to portray Abadi as a liar and a vengeful woman seeking to harm him.
Specifically, the lawsuit claims that Elfman made statements to Rolling Stone denying any sexual misconduct towards Abadi, including allegations of inappropriate touching and lewd behavior.
It also alleges that Elfman falsely accused Abadi of initiating nude photography and portrayed her as motivated by revenge and financial gain. These statements, according to the lawsuit, have caused significant personal and professional harm to Abadi, damaging her reputation within the composing industry and online.
Abadi’s initial lawsuit against Elfman was filed in 2018 and received media attention, including coverage by Rolling Stone. The publication reported that Abadi had shared her allegations with friends and filed a police report detailing Elfman’s alleged misconduct. Elfman denied these allegations at the time and later settled with Abadi for $830,000, accompanied by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
However, tensions reignited in 2023 when Abadi sued Elfman for allegedly failing to fulfill a payment required by their settlement agreement. This legal dispute comes amidst broader allegations against Elfman, as he faces another lawsuit for sexual harassment from a second anonymous woman, filed in October of the same year.
The defamation lawsuit filed by Abadi asserts that Elfman’s comments to Rolling Stone were part of a deliberate effort to undermine her credibility and paint her as a dishonest antagonist. It seeks damages for the harm caused to Abadi’s personal and professional life as a composer, musician, and educator, alleging that Elfman’s actions have severely affected her career and reputation.
