The man accused of attempting to blackmail comedian Carrot Top says he never threatened to release sexually explicit recordings involving the performer before Thompson’s suicide attempt.
The comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was taken to a hospital Friday after attempting to take his own life shortly before a scheduled performance in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to a September 3 filing obtained by Our News Outlet, Thompson’s attorney alleged that singer Brian Evans demanded $500,000 and threatened to submit a USB drive containing sexually explicit material involving Thompson to a court docket.
The filing does not specify what the alleged recording shows.
It is also unclear how Thompson, 61, tried to harm himself. As of Sunday, he is awake and breathing on his own, Jami Schilcher, his representative, told Page Six.
After the allegations became public, Evans said the recording on the USB drive had already been erased, according to TMZ.
Evans also denied that he tried to blackmail Thompson.
“I never threatened — ever — to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement,” Evans told the outlet. “The video they are discussing, as I made very clear, was deleted a long time ago in accordance with the prior settlement.”
Comedian Scott Thompson, known professionally as Carrot Top, was hospitalized Friday after attempting to take his own life before a performance in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Court records obtained by Our News Outlet allege that singer Brian Evans demanded $500,000 from Thompson and threatened to submit a USB drive containing sexually explicit material involving the pair to a court docket.
Addressing Thompson’s suicide attempt, Evans said he was “sorry that Scott apparently did something to hurt himself.”
“I do not consider Scott to be a bad person, based on what I know, but he made a few decisions that were not good ones. That is not a reason to hurt himself,” Evans said. He added that he should not be held responsible for Thompson’s actions.
“Finally, it’s not my fault that Scott did what he did. We don’t even actually know what he did,” Evans said.
“He survived, and I am glad about that. Scott is still young and has a big life ahead of him. It’s not my intent to bring this guy down. It’s the opposite.”
Evans’ comments followed an email he sent to Thompson’s attorney in which he argued that the recording was “not a threat,” as previously reported by Our News Outlet.
“Given the existing posture of the case and the coverage already in print, I expect the press will report the motion and will use its own imagination about what the USB is,” Evans wrote.
He continued: “That is a foreseeable fact about third-party reporting of a public docket. It is not a threat.”
Evans also stated that he does not control either the public court docket or the news media.
In the same correspondence, Evans said the $500,000 payment had to be provided in “immediately available funds” to resolve “all claims against Scott Thompson.”
Documents reviewed by Our News Outlet do not make clear whether the payment was presented as a demand or as a genuine settlement proposal.
Thompson’s legal team, however, characterized Evans’ conduct as a “malicious threat” intended to “expose” the comedian.
‘This is not settlement communication,’ they wrote.
‘On its face it is a malicious threat to expose Thompson to disgrace, and to expose a secret affecting him, with intent thereby to extort money under the guise of litigation conduct.’
Schlicher also told Our News Outlet: ‘A federal court recently declared Mr. Evans a “vexatious litigant” and described his filings as “serial” and “spurious”.
Regarding Thompson’s suicide attempt, Evans said that he was ‘sorry that Scott apparently did something to hurt himself.’ (Pictured: The comedian in March 1994)
In an update, Schlicher told Page Six that Thompson is improving and is surrounded by his loved ones.
He is also being his typical humorous self in the hospital, the source added.
‘Humor has always been such an important part of who Scott is and how he connects with people, and that remains true today as he shares moments of humor with the medical staff caring for him.’
Thompson has also been left feeling touched by heartfelt messages from fans following the incident.
‘Scott and his family remain deeply grateful for the extraordinary kindness and continue to ask that his privacy be respected,’ he added.
