Warning: This story mentions rape and sexual assault.
Embattled R&B singer Chris Brown has launched a US$500 million (NZ$880m) lawsuit against Warner Bros Discovery following the release of a documentary he claimed painted him as 鈥渁 serial rapist鈥.
Brown, 35, is suing the major media organisation for defamation in response to Chris Brown: A History of Violence, a 2024 documentary that explored a string of allegations against the singer that included violent behaviour and sexual misconduct.
A statement written by Brown鈥檚 lawyers and released to his social media accused Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) and several producers of 鈥減rioritising profits over journalistic integrity鈥. They also claimed the corporation had been notified of 鈥渢he false and misleading narrative鈥 ahead of the documentary鈥檚 release late last year.
鈥淭hey sensationalised debunked claims to drive viewership and revenue, recklessly damaging Mr Brown鈥檚 reputation and spreading false information to the public,鈥 the statement read.
鈥淭o be clear, Mr Brown has never been found at fault for any type of sexual crime.鈥
Chris Brown at the Chris Brown live show at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 14, 2024. Photo / Getty Images
The documentary was released by the WBD-owned TV network Investigation Discovery as part of its third annual No Excuse for Abuse campaign in October, which also marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The 1 hour 22 minute-long project is summarised on IMDb as a biographical film that 鈥渄elves into the controversial personal life of Chris Brown, an iconic singer, while exploring allegations of domestic violence, assault charges and sexual misconduct.鈥
An alleged victim of Brown, identified as Jane Doe, was interviewed in the documentary about her purported experiences with the singer, who in February 2009 made global headlines for assaulting then-girlfriend and pop icon Rihanna.
In 2022, the Jane Doe sued Brown for sexual assault and battery after he allegedly raped her on a Miami yacht owned by disgraced music mogul Sean 鈥淒iddy鈥 Combs. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the lawsuit was dismissed 鈥渨ithout prejudice鈥 and can be refiled.
In the statement, Brown鈥檚 lawyers accused the corporations of amplifying Jane Doe鈥檚 鈥渄efamatory lies鈥 and claimed the alleged victim 鈥渁ctively pursued鈥 a 鈥渃onsensual鈥 relationship with the singer.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday (US time) in Los Angeles Superior Court, further claimed the Jane Doe had a domestic violence restraining order filed against her and a 鈥渉istory of violence and erratic behavior鈥.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the suit alleged the producers 鈥淸ignored] publicly available court records and other credible evidence鈥.
A spokesperson for Investigation Discovery said a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that it stands behind the production and 鈥渨ill vigorously defend ourselves against this lawsuit鈥.
The lawsuit also named producers Ample, Scaachi Koul, Sharon Carpenter, Michelle Taylor and Cheryl Dorsey.
Brown is seeking at least US$500 million (NZ$880m) in compensation - an unspecified percentage of which he said will be donated to survivors of sexual abuse.
The 35-year-old addressed his 2009 assault of Rihanna in the 2017 self-produced documentary, Chris Brown: Welcome to My Life, in which he claimed: 鈥淚 went from being on top of the world, number one songs, being kind of like America鈥檚 sweetheart, to being public enemy number one鈥.
鈥淲e would fight each other. She would hit me, I would hit her and it never was OK,鈥 he alleged.
Brown received five years probation and a community service order for the assault.
In 2017, Brown鈥檚 former girlfriend Karrueche Tran was granted a five-year domestic violence restraining order against him, which she sought to extend in 2020. In the filing, Tran accused Brown of physical violence and threatening to kill her.
In July 2024, Brown and his entourage were sued for US$50 million (NZ$88m) after the 鈥渂rutal鈥 and 鈥渧iolent鈥 alleged assault of four concertgoers.
In June 2021, Brown was investigated by police for allegedly slapping a woman at his Los Angeles home.
The singer has three children - Royalty, 10, Aeko, 5, and Lovely, 3 - with three women.
Chris Brown: A History of Violence is available to watch in New Zealand on ThreeNow.
SEXUAL HARM
Where to get help:
If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact confidentially, any time 24/7:
鈥 Call 0800 044 334
鈥 Text 4334
鈥 Email [email protected]
鈥 For more info or to web chat visit
Alternatively contact your local police station -
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.
FAMILY VIOLENCE
How to get help:
If you're in danger now:
鈥 Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you.
鈥 Run outside and head for where there are other people. Scream for help so your neighbours can hear you.
鈥 Take the children with you. Don't stop to get anything else.
鈥 If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay.
Where to go for help or more information:
鈥 : Crisis line - 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (available 24/7)
鈥 : Helpline - 0508 744 633 (available 24/7)
鈥 : Family violence information line - 0800 456 450
鈥 : Specialist services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and children.
鈥 Crisis line - 0800 742 584 (available 24/7)
鈥 : For information on family violence
鈥 : National Network of Family Violence Services
鈥 : Aiming to eliminate men's violence towards women.
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If you are reading this information on the Herald website and you're worried that someone using the same computer will find out what you've been looking at, you can follow the steps to hide your visit. Each of the websites above also has a section that outlines this process.
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