Wednesday 23 September 2015

Sean Penn Sues ‘Empire’ Creator Lee Daniels For Defamation In $10 Million Lawsuit


Sean Penn is suing ​“Empire” creator Lee Daniels ​for $10 million for suggesting ​the two-time Oscar winner is a wife beater.

The beef between the ​two started earlier this month when ​filmmaker ​Daniels​ ​told The Hollywood Reporter that “Empire” star Terrence Howard​, who has a record of violence against women​, “Ain’t done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he’s some f–kin’ demon.”
“That’s a sign of the time, of race, of where we are in America right now,” Daniels reportedly said on the eve of ​t​he Emmy Awards.

He was commenting on the negative press surrounding Howard, who has been “arrested five time​s​ for violent acts against women,” according to Penn’s suit.
Penn called the statement “egregious on several levels” in ​his defamation suit.

“First in his purported defense of Howard, Daniels not only appears to acknowledge Howard’s guilt, he also seems to condone Howard’s misconduct,” Penn says in court papers.

Penn, 55, claims the remarks were made to bolster Daniels’ show “Empire” — which was snubbed by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at Sunday night’s Emmys. ​
He admits​, in the filing,​ that while he has had “several brushes with the law,” the ​”Milk” and “Mystic River” star was never arrested for or convicted of domestic violence.
“His ex-wives (including Madonna​)​ would confirm and attest,” the suit says. ​
For decades Penn has been dogged by allegations that he whacked Madonna across the head with a baseball bat in 1987 and then tied her to a chair in their Malibu home and attacked her in 1988.
But his lawyer, Matthew Rosengart, called the claims “absolutely, utterly false, reckless and outrageous.”

Penn was also married to actress Robin Wright and this year ended a relationship with actress Charlize Theron.
The 10-page suit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday includes nearly three pages listing the actor’s accolades.
“His highly successful film career has spanned over three decades and includes five Academy Award nominations and two Academy Awards for Best Actor, for his performances in ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Milk,’ ” the suit says.