Sean Penn Sues Lee Daniels Over ‘Reckless And Malicious’ Comments
Actor Sean Penn reportedly filed a lawsuit against Empire co-creator Lee Daniels for $10 million.
Sean Penn Sues Lee Daniels — I DON’T Hit Women http://t.co/DNZTLOnkYD
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 22, 2015
TMZ reports that the Gangster Squad actor targeted comments made by Lee Daniels during an interview, in which he referenced Sean Penn when trying to improve the public image of Empire star Terrence Howard.
“[Terrence Howard] ain’t done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he’s some (expletive) demon… That’s a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America.”
According to TMZ, Sean Penn claimed in the filed documents that he has been the target of “scandalous, scurrilous, and baseless attacks” for years, and that Lee Daniels’ comments about him were “reckless and malicious.”
“Daniels’ defense of Howard (and his improper invocation of two of the greatest actors and humanitarians of our time, Brando and Penn, in doing so) is apparently part of a misguided campaign to profit and further bolster and brand his show, ‘Empire.’ “
In the past, Sean Penn has made headlines numerous times for his alleged attack, but the Oscar-winning actor was never charged. After Sean delivered his controversial “green card” joke at the Oscars earlier this year, quite a few people referenced those claims on Twitter, according to the Daily Beast.
Guys, Sean Penn is racist. Also, he beats women. Lest we forget. #Oscars2015 — Elaisha Stokes (@ElaishaStokes) February 23, 2015
Reminder: Sean Penn beats women. #Oscars2015
— KB (@KaraRBrown) February 23, 2015
A March 2009 article published by Daily Mail referred to a June, 1987, incident, in which Madonna checked into the Cedars Sinai hospital to get an X-ray after “Penn apparently hit her across the head with a baseball bat.”
#Madonna celebrates #SeanPenn with a sexy throwback photo—forgets he beat her w/a baseball bat http://t.co/nJa7GtXZKA pic.twitter.com/UKQPQbRkI1
— TheHollywoodMag (@THollywoodMag) August 15, 2015
I cannot with Sean Penn. We ALL know he abused Madonna. he hit her with a baseball bat after he bound her to a chair. Now he’s suing Lee?
— Buhle Mbonambi (@Buhlebonga) September 22, 2015
How is Sean Penn going to scream “defamation!” for someone stating the fact that he tied Madonna up and beat her with a baseball bat?
— Chris (@snookercrunk) September 22, 2015
The report further claims that Madonna did not file an official complaint about the attack, because Sean Penn was already set to serve time for attacking a film extra.
[Image Credit: Thomas Niedermueller & Ben Gabbe / Getty Images]