R&B star Chris Brown has filed a $500 million lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery and production company Ample Entertainment over their 2024 documentary "Chris Brown: A History of Violence," which he claims contains false sexual assault allegations against him.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges the media companies promoted and published false information "in their pursuit of likes, clicks, downloads and dollars" despite being provided evidence that contradicted the documentary's claims.
At the center of the dispute is testimony from a "Jane Doe" who accused Brown of sexual assault. According to the lawsuit, these allegations were previously discredited and dismissed in court. Brown's legal team states the woman had filed a civil lawsuit against him in January 2022 that was later withdrawn after text messages uncovered by police allegedly exposed dishonesty in her claims.
The complaint also contends that the documentary's producers ignored the accuser's own history of domestic violence, including an alleged 2021 restraining order filed against her by an ex-boyfriend for physical assault and harassment.
Brown's attorneys argue that Warner Bros. Discovery and Ample Entertainment proceeded with airing the documentary despite knowing it "contained false claims and violated journalist professional standards." They claim this has damaged Brown's reputation, career prospects, and business opportunities.
The R&B singer pledged to donate a portion of any damages awarded to survivors of sexual abuse. Representatives for Warner Bros. Discovery and Ample Entertainment have not yet responded to requests for comment.
While the lawsuit acknowledges Brown's past misconduct, including his 2009 assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna, his legal team maintains he has worked to reform his image over the past decade. The complaint emphasizes that Brown "has never been found guilty of any sex-related crime" despite the documentary's portrayal.