Heavy metal legend Dave Ellefson plans to pursue a criminal case and a defamation lawsuit against the person who leaked sexually explicit photos and video of him earlier this month and accused him of grooming an underage fan for sex.
The scandal led to Ellefson's dismissal from Megadeth earlier this week.
The bassist has vehemently denied the grooming allegations, though he has acknowledged that the woman with whom he was communicating was not his wife. A woman claiming to be the person to initiate the calls with Ellefson also denied the assertion that she was underage or groomed by him in any way.
“Recently, a very private video was illegally posted on the internet and false allegations were made against me,” Ellefson said in a statement provided to Rolling Stone. “The actions in the video were between two consenting adults and were recorded without my knowledge. I am working with Scottsdale Police Department in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted this video. Also, my lawyers are preparing a defamation lawsuit to be filed against this person. This person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
"I am taking this time to be with my family," he added. "I wish my bandmates the best with their upcoming tour."
The woman claiming to be the recipient of Ellefson's communication also admitted to being "just naive enough to record him and share it with a friend without his permission."
A few weeks after confirming that the band was "watching developments closely" with regards to the Ellefson scandal, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine announced Monday that the band would "officially part ways" with its co-founding bassist. Mustaine wrote that there was "an already strained relationship" with Ellefson and that the new information made "working together impossible moving forward."
Megadeth is set to kick off its long-postponed tour with Lamb of God, Trivium and In Flames this August.
Photo: Getty Images