Chris Brown has filed a $500 million (R9.2 billion) lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery and Ample Entertainment, accusing the producers of the documentary "Chris Brown: A History of Violence" of promoting false and defamatory claims about him.
The lawsuit, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, accused the companies of knowingly airing baseless allegations of sexual assault and evidence tampering to boost viewership and revenue.
"They sensationalised debunked claims to drive viewership and revenue, recklessly damaging Mr. Brown's reputation and spreading false information to the public. To be clear, Mr. Brown has never been found at fault for any type of sexual crime."
The complaint further accuses the companies of “knowingly disregarding their ethical obligations as journalists".
The documentary, which aired on October 27, 2024, on Investigation Discovery (ID), focuses on allegations made by Daisia Chantel Frank, referred to as "Jane Doe" in the programme.
Brown’s attorneys argue that these claims had already been "thoroughly discredited in court years ago.”
According to the lawsuit, Frank is “a documented perpetrator of domestic violence with a history that includes physical assault and threats of violence against her romantic partner".
The lawsuit claims that the producers were aware of these facts but "chose to amplify her defamatory lies".
Brown’s attorneys, Levi McCathern and Evan Selik, stated: "Despite being provided with evidence disproving their claims, the producers of this documentary intentionally promoted false and defamatory information, knowingly disregarding their ethical obligations as journalists."
In an Instagram post, Brown shared a statement from his legal team, describing the lawsuit as a fight for accountability.
"Through this legal action, Mr. Brown seeks to stand against the exploitation of misinformation for personal gain," the statement read.
Brown’s attorneys added that the documentary falsely accused him of "heinous acts, including sexual assault and evidence tampering".
They emphasised that "Mr Brown has never been found at fault for any type of sexual crime".
The legal team also highlighted that Frank’s interactions with Brown were consensual, supported by "numerous text and voice messages" sent by Frank to Brown.
The lawsuit seeks $500 million in damages, with a portion of the amount set to be donated to survivors of sexual abuse. “This case is about protecting the truth,” McCathern said.
Brown’s 2017 documentary, "Chris Brown: Welcome to My Life", remains, according to his team, the "definitive account of his experiences and growth".
IOL