The man accused of attempting to blackmail Carrot Top reportedly said he “never” threatened to release sexually explicit recordings involving the comedian before Thompson’s suicide attempt.
The comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was taken to hospital on Friday after attempting to take his own life shortly before a scheduled performance in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to Thompson’s lawyer, the alleged suicide attempt followed a demand from singer Brian Evans for $500,000. In a September 3 court filing obtained by the Daily Mail, the attorney claimed Evans threatened to submit a USB drive containing sexually explicit material involving Thompson to a court docket if the money was not paid.
The contents of the alleged recording have not been disclosed.
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 allegation became public, however, Evans said the recording on the USB drive had already been deleted, according to TMZ.
The singer also denied that he had attempted 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.”
The comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was taken to hospital on Friday after attempting to take his own life shortly before a show in Las Vegas, Nevada
According to court records obtained by the Daily Mail, Thompson’s alleged suicide attempt followed a $500,000 demand from singer Brian Evans, who was accused of threatening 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 could 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.
“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 issued the response after emailing Thompson’s lawyer to insist that the recording was “not a threat,” as previously reported by the Daily Mail.
“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.
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He continued: “That is a foreseeable fact about third-party reporting of a public docket. It is not a threat.”
Evans said he did “not control the public docket” and did “not control the press.”
He then stated that $500,000 had to be paid to him “in immediately available funds” for the “resolution of all claims against Scott Thompson….”
The court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail do not make clear whether the payment was a demand or a genuine settlement offer.
In response, Thompson’s legal team characterized Evans’ actions 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 the Daily Mail: ‘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.