Danny Elfman has lost a bid to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by fellow composer Nomi Abadi over statements he made to Rolling Stone in 2023 that were included in an investigative piece about a secret sexual harassment settlement made with his former protégé.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gail Killefer ruled that Abadi’s lawsuit will move forward, finding that Elfman can’t take advantage of a California statute allowing for the early dismissal of cases intended to chill free speech. The former Oingo Bingo lead singer tried to have Abadi’s case tossed on the grounds that on-the-record statements he made in a March 2023 letter to Rolling Stone were protected speech and enjoyed litigation privilege because they were made in anticipation of him suing Rolling Stone for defamation. However, “the litigation privilege does not apply to defendant Elfman’s statements” and the “letter functions more as a press release rather than a demand letter,...