NEWS
Drake is not the only superstar who is citing defamation. Chris Brown decided to take legal action against the production house Ample and Warner Bros. on Tuesday, January 21. The singer is suing both over the release of the documentary series Chris Brown: A History of Violence. Brown claims that the series was irresponsible with its content, and presented "sensationalized" and "debunked claims" about his criminal past. Brown is seeking a whopping $500 million from the production house and company as a result.
Chris Brown's legal team took the makers of the documentary series to task for presenting what they felt were half truths. The singer is accusing Ample and Warner Bros. of "promoting," as well as "publishing," defamatory claims about him and his personal life. He also cited the Jane Doe at the heart of the series. Chris Brown's legal team allege that Doe has repeatedly been discredited. Yet she was presented in such a way as to sell viewers on her assault claims. The singer pointed out that the lawsuit filed by Doe was later withdrawn.
The legal team also noted that Chris Brown: A History of Violence dubs Brown a "serial rapist and sexual abuser." Despite the fact that he's never been convicted of a sex related crime. "Despite being provided with proof that their narrative was false," the documents stated. "They went ahead and aired the series anyway." These documents also present Brown as someone who has owned up to mistakes in the past, such as his assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna. He claims to have grown as a result of these mistakes. He accuses Ample and Warner Bros. of promoting a counter-narrative for the sake of business.
"To put it simply," Chris Brown's legal team concluded. "This case is about the media putting their own profits over the truth." Chris Brown's legal team claim that the singer has suffered to his career and his reputation as a result of the documentary series. Brown is seeking $500 million in damages, and asserts that he will donate part of these proceeds to victims of sexual abuse. Ample and Warner Bros. have not yet responded to the suit.
NEWS
A$AP Rocky has been quiet during his legal battle. The rapper has not said a word entering the court or a word during his trial. Barring some brief praise for his friend and blog rap peer Kendrick Lamar. A$AP has made sure to be careful when it comes to what he says. His facade dropped, however, during a shocking exchange on Friday. The rapper told a witness not to answer a question during an interrogation. It was a shocking moment on several front, and is generally considered a bad sign during a criminal trial.
The awkward moment was captured on film. A$AP Twelvy, a member of Rocky's A$AP Mob, was being asked what the meaning of a specific photo was. The rapper made it clear he wasn't sure what it meant, but in the midst of his answer, Rocky spoke out. Prosecution interrupted the line of questioning and then redirected the focus to A$AP Rocky's question. "Did you hear the defendant when asked question loudly say," he asked. "Do not answer it." Twelvy admits he heard something but claimed he wasn't sure what was said from Rocky's side of the courtroom.
The prosecution suggested that A$AP Twelvy was being coy about his knowledge due to the fact that A$AP Rocky told him not give an answer. The rapper attempted to downplay Rocky's comment, saying he didn't even hear what was said. Prosecution doubled down, and attempted to get an answer out of the A$AP Mob member. The video account of the exchange is cut off when the judge decides to take a break from the interrogation.
Twelvy's controversial exchange is an unexpected development. The rapper appears to be on A$AP Rocky's side, and even testified that he did not open fire on A$AP Relli the way that Relli is claiming. Twelvy told the court that Rocky actually fired a starter pistol that he kept on him during the alleged encounter with Relli. "He walked around with a prop, like a starter pistol," Twelvy stated. "I seen it on several occasions." The rapper then claimed that the gun was clearly identified as fake before said confrontation went down. "He told him to shoot that fake-ass gun," Twelvy added.
