Chris Brown Sues Warner Bros. For $500 Million Over Documentary Allegations
American singer Chris Brown has filed a $500 million lawsuit against Warner Bros. and other parties over allegations made in the 2024 docuseries Chris Brown: A History of Violence, which aired on Investigation Discovery.
In the lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, January 21, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Brown, 35, claims the documentary falsely portrayed him as a “serial rapist” and “sexual abuser,” causing significant harm to his reputation and career.
The lawsuit names Warner Bros., Ample, and the producers of the series as defendants, accusing them of defamation-libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The series featured several women who alleged abuse by the singer, including one identified as Jane Doe, who accused Brown of raping her in 2020.
Brown’s attorneys strongly denied the allegations, asserting that the documentary was riddled with inaccuracies and sensationalism.
“This case is about the media putting their own profits over the truth,” the lawsuit states, accusing the producers of airing a documentary “full of lies and deception” in violation of journalistic ethics.
The lawsuit points out that Brown has never been convicted of any sex crimes and accuses the documentary of recycling discredited claims. It highlights a prior lawsuit filed by Doe in January 2022, which alleged that Brown assaulted her on a yacht owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs. That case was dismissed in August 2022 after police uncovered text messages that allegedly contradicted Doe’s claims.
Brown’s legal team also included evidence, such as screenshots of a restraining order reportedly filed against Doe by her boyfriend in 2021, alleging she had physically assaulted him and made threats.
The lawsuit claims the documentary has caused substantial damage to Brown’s career, undermining his decade-long efforts to rebuild his reputation following his 2009 conviction for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna.
“Mr. Brown has grown from those experiences, and his evolution speaks for itself,” the filing states. “This production ignores that growth, opting instead to amplify falsehoods and stale accusations.”
Brown’s attorney, Levi McCathern, emphasized the broader implications of the case:
“Their actions undermine not only Mr. Brown’s efforts to rebuild his life but also the credibility of true survivors of violence.”
Brown is seeking $500 million in damages, alleging defamation, emotional distress, and unauthorized use of his name and likeness. He is also requesting a jury trial to address the matter.
