SNL's Horatio Sanz Accused Of Sexually Abusing Teen Fan: NYC Suit

NEW YORK CITY — Former Saturday Night Live star Horatio Sanz has been accused of sexually abusing a teenaged fan, court records show.

Jane Doe, as she is named in a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court Wednesday, accused Sanz, now 52, of physical and mental abuse that spanned years and began when he first found the teenaged fan's website in January 2000.

"Defendant SANZ ...emailed Plaintiff (then 15) from an NBC email account," the suit contends. "Thereafter, Defendant SANZ began his process of grooming Plaintiff."

Patch did not receive an immediate response to requests for comment sent to Sanz and NBCUniversal Media.

The actor's attorney Andrew Brettler denied the charges, which he called "categorically false” in a written statement. “However often she repeats her ludicrous allegations or tries to rope in other high-profile names to generate media attention, they will always be false,” Brettler said.

The attorney also claimed Jane Doe had asked to be paid $7.5 million for her silence. Patch was unable to reach her attorney for comment on this statement.

Sanz first met Jane Doe in person in October 2000 after a live taping of the show, then reached out to her under the name “Marblechomper” on AOL Instant Messenger, the suit states.

When his messages became sexual, the suit claims Sanz wrote, “Don’t tell anybody. Promise?”

Sanz and Jane Doe continued to message and attend cast parties together, according to the suit.

The SNL comedian's treatment included buying Jane Doe roses and referring to her as a "slut" or a "b---h," according to the suit.

The suit also contends Sanz initiated a physical relationship to which Jane Doe could not legally give consent.

On May 19, 2001, Sanz pulled Jane Doe into his lap and wrapped his arm around her hip waist and buttocks during a cast party at the SNL offices, the suit claims.

The suit also states that, in August of the same year, Sanz began asking her for sexually explicit photos and on May 11 and 12 of 2002, the actor sexually assaulted the teen.

Jane Doe went to college in 2003 and continued to struggle with shame and depression, the suit contends.

"Defendant SANZ continued to message Plaintiff and solicit sexually explicit images and conversation," the suit states. "Defendant SANZ became increasingly emotionally abusive and controlling towards Plaintiff."

Sanz continued messaging Jane Doe throughout the years, culminating in a 2019 text conversation in which she said he admitted to his abuse, according to the lawsuit.

“I was a creep but a wounded creep," Sanz wrote, the suit states. "I was a weak man. I was wrong.”

The lawsuit also says that Sanz told Jane Doe he had changed since he quit drinking alcohol but understood if she wanted to add her story to those of the Me Too movement.

"If you want to metoo [sic] me you have every right," Sanz said, according to the suit. "Just believe me I’m not like that anymore.”

Since leaving SNL in 2011, Sanz has made many on-screen appearances such as in the television series "The Mandalorian" and the soon-to-be-released children's movie "Clifford The Big Red Dog."

Jane Doe's suit, one of thousands filed under New York state's Child Victims Act, requests damages for the emotional harm caused by Sanz's abuse.

"Defendant SANZ acted in a manner so shocking and outrageous that it exceeds all reasonable bounds of decency," the suit contends.

"Defendants SNL and NBC acted in a manner that was likewise intentional, reckless, willful, shameful, and in abject, wanton, and total disregard to the serious harm inflicted upon Plaintiff through its complicity."