'Winnie the Pooh' voice actor Jim Cummings accused of 'sexually deviant behavior,' animal abuse by ex-wife
A voice actor who brought dozens of Disney characters to life, including Winnie the Pooh in 2018's "Christopher Robin," is accused of animal abuse, rape and "sexually deviant behavior" by his ex-wife in court documents obtained by The Blast.
Jim Cummings, whose years of credits include 1994's "The Lion King" and more than 250 voices in various children's TV shows, is engaged in a contentious legal battle with Stephanie Cummings, who he wed in 2001 and divorced in 2011. The couple's two children are referenced in some of the allegations, including one which claims that during one of Jim's visits to see the kids, he stood over her while she was asleep "with his erect penis in my hand. He was using my hand to stroke his penis while my youngest daughter was asleep on the other side of me. She was 10 years old at the time."
Jim allegedly insisted that she participate in sexual activity or else he would wake up their child, and Stephanie says she obliged due to her "worry that I could not control what he would do in front of her." She then obtained a restraining order, her second against Jim.
Jim, 66, is also accused of punishing a pet dog who went to the bathroom indoors by placing it in a metal bucket outside in 100 degree heat. Jim countered that the form of discipline was a suggestion from the vet, but acknowledged that he forgot about the dog "for a while." In another incident, according to Stephanie, Jim hit the dog with a broom "so hard that he shattered the puppy’s hip necessitating surgery."
Concern about the alleged harassment motivated Stephanie to move with their two daughters to Utah, she said.
Both Stephanie and Jim have accused the other of substance abuse. Jim says that his rehab stays were voluntary, and that in 2004, he and his then-wife "mutually agreed" to enter a treatment facility. Jim also alleges that Stephanie wants to derail his Disney career.
Disney has not publicly commented on the case.
