A lawsuit alleges that Thornton allowed his son access to his Manhattan apartment where an assault occurred, “without proper supervision or limitations,” whereas also being aware of “his son’s prior sexual violence against women.” According to the plaintiff, the actor thereby enabled acts of gender-based violence.
The Rolling Stone reports the alleged assault took place in November 2020, after Jane Doe refused a sexual act. The lawsuit details that when she attempted to leave the apartment, Declyn allegedly took her phone and forcibly detained her in the bedroom. When she resisted, Lauper allegedly pinned her head and neck to the bed with his full body weight, releasing her only when both heard “a cracking sound coming from her neck and upper spine.”
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The plaintiff states that after escaping the apartment, Declyn called to apologize for his actions. Jane Doe initially filed a lawsuit against her attacker in 2024, but mediation was blocked when Declyn filed for bankruptcy shortly before the hearing.
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The lawsuit cites Declyn’s past to demonstrate the father’s knowledge of his son’s aggressive tendencies. In 2018, a former partner publicly accused him of domestic violence, physical assault, and unlawful imprisonment, suggesting a pattern of violent behavior toward women.
The son’s legal troubles extend beyond alleged sexual assaults. Declyn was arrested in 2022 for vehicle theft and faced charges in 2024 for possession of a weapon and narcotics related to a shooting incident. He pleaded guilty in both cases and is currently serving a year of probation, including mandatory substance abuse treatment.
