Zürcher Nachrichten - Singer Chris Brown sues Warner Bros for $500 mn over documentary

The film, "Chris Brown: A History of Violence," which was released in October by Warner Bros' Investigation Discovery channel, chronicles allegations of domestic violence, assault and sexual misconduct against the American R&B singer and rapper over the years.

Brown, 35, rose to fame at a young age with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation was later tarnished by allegations of domestic violence and other abuse -- most famously when he was convicted of beating Rihanna, then his girlfriend, before the 2009 Grammy Awards, forcing the pop star to miss the annual gala.

In a complaint filed at Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, Brown's lawyers said the documentary, streamed on Max, has a "misleading narrative" that accuses their client of "heinous acts, including sexual assault and evidence tampering -- allegations that had been discredited in court and dismissed as baseless."

The attorneys said the film "sensationalized debunked claims to drive viewership and revenue, recklessly damaging Mr Brown's reputation and spreading false information to the public," according to the statement, posted by Brown on Wednesday.

"To be clear Mr. Brown has never been found at fault for any type of sexual crime," they added.

A spokesperson for Investigation Discovery said in a statement published by USA TODAY on Wednesday: "We stand behind the production and will vigorously defend ourselves against this lawsuit."

The $500 million claim was brought against Warner Bros, Ample, LLC and individuals involved in producing the documentary, the lawyers' statement said.

Brown's attorney Levi McCathern said the documentary makers had undermined Brown's "decade-long efforts to rebuild his life but also the credibility of true survivors of violence."

The singer, who rose from a local church choir in Virginia to sudden fame, was arrested in 2016 after a woman alleged that he pointed a gun at her.

Earlier that year, another woman accused him of battery in Las Vegas.

He also was previously accused of raping a woman in a luxury Paris hotel. He denied the claim and was not charged.

U.Ammann--NZN