David Thornton Faces Lawsuit Amidst Allegations Against Son, Declyn Lauper
Actor David Thornton, husband of singer Cyndi Lauper, is currently named in a civil lawsuit in New York City connected to allegations of sexual assault involving their son, Declyn Lauper. The suit alleges Thornton enabled the alleged assault and was aware of prior concerning behavior.
Background of the Allegations
The lawsuit, obtained by Rolling Stone, was filed by an anonymous Jane Doe who accuses Declyn Lauper of a “brutal sexual assault” in November 2020. This case appears to be related to a previous lawsuit filed against Lauper in 2024 concerning the same alleged incident, which occurred at an apartment in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. Mediation for the 2024 suit was scheduled but was halted when Lauper filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Thornton’s Alleged Role
The current lawsuit accuses Thornton of “enabling the gender-motivated violence perpetrated against [Doe]” by providing Declyn Lauper with the apartment where the alleged assault took place. The suit further claims Thornton did so “without adequate supervision or restriction” and despite knowledge of “his son’s prior sexual violence against women.”
Details of the Alleged Assault
According to the lawsuit, Jane Doe was invited to the apartment by Declyn Lauper and received $60 for transportation. Upon arrival, a disagreement occurred regarding a sexual act Lauper allegedly wanted Doe to perform. Doe stated she wanted to leave, at which point Lauper allegedly took her cell phone and threatened to break it if she did not comply with his demands. The suit alleges Lauper then physically forced Doe onto his bed multiple times, and allegedly “smothered his genitals over Jane Doe’s mouth” while she attempted to resist. Doe allegedly bit Lauper in an attempt to stop him, and he allegedly pressed his weight onto her head and neck, only stopping when a “pop sound” was heard from her neck and spine.
The suit also alleges Lauper used derogatory language towards Doe after the alleged assault and attempted to contact her afterward.
Prior Allegations Against Declyn Lauper
The lawsuit references prior allegations against Declyn Lauper, including accusations of domestic violence made by his former girlfriend, Brittney Taylor, a contestant on Love & Hip-Hop: New York, in 2018. It also notes Lauper’s 2022 arrest for allegedly stealing a car and 2024 charges related to a shooting, for which he pleaded guilty and received a sentence of interim probation and substance abuse treatment earlier in March 2026.
Representatives for David Thornton and the lawyer for Jane Doe have not yet issued public statements regarding the current lawsuit.
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