The voice actor behind “Winnie the Pooh” says his ex-wife’s accusations of rape and animal abuse are an extortion attempt.
Jim Cummings claims ex Stephanie Cummings’s allegations “are baseless and only intended to harm my good name and my position as the voice of many, many beloved characters.”
Stephanie Cummings had claimed that her former husband “engaged in physical, sexual and emotional abuse including but not limited to death threats, rape, and various sexual deviant behavior forced upon me without my consent,” according to court documents obtained by The Blast.
Stephanie, who split from Jim in 2011, alleged that he raped her in 2013 and would often grope her. She also claimed that he abused the family dog, harming it with a broom and leaving it stranded outdoors in high heat for hours.
In an “open letter to my fans” that Jim Cummings posted to his website this week, he said his legal team is working on stopping, “the propagation of these baseless accusations, out right [sic] lies, and false quotes — all disseminated for Click bait at the very cost of my family, personal life and career.”
He called the allegations “a clear attempt to extort me,” adding he has contacted the FBI and local authorities.
Stephanie Cummings and two daughters she had with Jim moved to Utah to escape her ex’s alleged behavior in 2017.
The former spouses are currently embroiled in a custody battle in Los Angeles court.
The story originally appeared in the New York Post.