Cyndi Lauper's Husband Sued for Allegedly Enabling Sex Assault

Eighties singer Cyndi Lauper’s husband, actor David Thornton, is being sued in New York City for “enabling” an alleged sexual assault by their son, rapper Declyn “Dex” Lauper, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

“The suit, obtained by Rolling Stone, was brought by an anonymous Jane Doe, who accused Declyn Lauper of a ‘brutal sexual assault’ in November 2020. This appears to be the same Jane Doe who sued Lauper for sexual assault in 2024, as the alleged incidents described both complaints occurred on Nov. 9, 2020 at an apartment on Thompson Street in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan.”

Shortly before Doe’s lawsuit against Dex, 28, was to head to mediation, the musician filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Rolling Stone reports that the new civil suit accuses Thornton of “enabling the gender-motivated violence perpetrated against [Doe]” by Declyn Lauper.

“It argues that Thornton provided Lauper with the apartment where the alleged attack took place ‘without adequate supervision or restriction’ and despite knowing about ‘his son’s prior sexual violence against women.’”

“According to the lawsuit, Doe said Declyn Lauper ‘invited’ her to the apartment and sent her about $60 to cover her transit. Upon her arrival, the suit claims she and Lauper ‘disagreed about a sexual act’ Declyn wanted Doe ‘to perform on him.’ Doe then said she ‘insisted on leaving… because she did not feel comfortable.’” 

“Declyn allegedly took Doe’s cell phone to keep her from leaving, then threatened to break it ‘if she did not perform fellatio on him.’ He then allegedly ‘pushed Jane Doe onto his bed whenever she tried to exit his bedroom.’ After pushing Doe onto the bed for a third time, Declyn allegedly held her down while Doe asked to be let up. Declyn allegedly refused, then ‘proceeded to forcibly smother his genitals over Jane Doe’s mouth, as Jane Doe warned him that she would bite him.’”

“Doe said she ‘gently placed her teeth on [Lauper’s] genitals in an attempt to get him off of her.’ This allegedly prompted Lauper to put his bodyweight on Jane Doe’s head and neck, pressing her onto the bed. Lauper allegedly only released Doe when the two of them ‘heard a pop sound from her neck and upper spine.’”

“According to the suit, Lauper called Doe a ‘bitch’ and the n-word, and ‘stated that no one would believe her if she ever repeated what had just transpired.’ After leaving the apartment, Doe claimed that Lauper called her ‘saying that he was sorry for what he had just done to her.’ He allegedly tried to contact her several more times, but Doe ‘refused to see him again.’” 

“In trying to establish the case against Thornton, and his alleged awareness of his son’s alleged actions, Doe’s lawsuit notes that Lauper’s ex-girlfriend, Brittney Taylor (a contestant on Love & Hip-Hop: New York) publicly accused him in 2018 of domestic violence, physical assault, false imprisonment, and threats of revenge pornography. (It’s unclear if Lauper ever responded to these allegations; a lawyer for Lauper did not immediately return Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.)”

The latest lawsuit mentions two prior criminal convictions on Dex’s record.

In 2022, Dex was arrested for “stealing a car outside a rapper’s memorial (he eventually pleaded guilty).” He was arrested again in 2024 on “gun and drug charges connected to a shooting. He also pleaded guilty in that case and was sentenced to one year of interim probation and substance abuse treatment earlier this month.”

Dex’s mother Cyndi, 72, is known for several hit songs in the mid-eighties, including “Girls Just Want to have Fun”, while his father David, 72, appeared in the film Home Alone 3, and several TV series including Law & Order.

Declyn "Dex" Lauper (Photo credit: Steven Hirsch)