After this scandal, a former friend filed a lawsuit against Kevin Hart
A man suing Kevin Hart for breach of contract claims he was falsely accused of attempting to blackmail the comedian over his sex video controversy in 2017.
According to a copy of the complaint given to USA TODAY, Jonathan T. Jackson, better known by his stage as J.T. Jackson, sued Hart in Los Angeles on Wednesday, claiming the comedian had broken a settlement deal that obliged him to affirm Jackson’s innocence in the case.
USA TODAY has contacted Hart’s representatives to request a statement.
Jackson was accused of trying to extort Hart in 2018 by threatening to publish a video of the «Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle» actor in Las Vegas with a woman who wasn’t his wife.
Later, the accusations were withdrawn. Jackson asserts that he was not involved in the production or distribution of the tape and refutes the «baseless» extortion claims.
By 2021, according to Jackson, he and Hart had signed a formal settlement agreement that obliged the comic to clear Jackson in public.
«Meticulously negotiated and detailed» under their contract, Hart was to say in an Instagram video that Jackson «is not guilty and had nothing to do with it.»
In his October 2021 statement, Hart merely stated that the charges against Jackson «have been dropped» and that «I’m happy that that chapter of my life is over,» without mentioning that Jackson had anything to do with trying to extort him. But, the lawsuit claims that Hart «willfully deviated» from the agreed-upon language.
The lawsuit claimed that Hart’s speech fell short of clearing Jackson’s name and repairing his reputation.
«Hart’s statement dilutes this intent by framing the exoneration more as a conclusion to a chapter in Hart’s own life rather than a clear and unequivocal exoneration of Plaintiff,» according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that this was a «profound and egregious breach» of the agreement. Jackson adds that Hart has faced «enormous difficulties in obtaining acting roles» following his purported violation of contract.
Accepting the Mark Twain Prize for humor, Kevin Hart remarks that deciding to pursue comedy was a «gamble.»
Jackson further claims that Hart and his group «fabricated evidence and provided misleading statements» to get him arrested without a warrant.
Jackson claims that even after the allegations against him were dismissed, the situation’s emotional strain made his PTSD worse, damaged his reputation, and prevented him from taking advantage of job chances.
The Jackson’s «legal exoneration, a pivotal moment, could not erase the years of adversity, missed opportunities, and emotional anguish inflicted upon Plaintiff and his family,» the complaint claims.
«Despite the courtroom victory, the shadow of unfounded allegations persisted, casting a long and enduring stain exacerbated by Hart’s role in shaping public opinion through negative media portrayal.»
Jackson is requesting damages in excess of $12 million and additionally accuses of fraud and purposeful infliction of mental anguish.
Kevin Hart’s remarks against his erstwhile pal J.T. Jackson
Before reaching a settlement in 2021, Hart talked about the sex video controversy in the 2019 documentary «Kevin Hart: Don’t F— This Up.» The complaint demands that the false comments made against Jackson be taken down and claims that seeing this program, which went into depth about the accusations and charges against him, severely damaged his reputation and career.
The «Central Intelligence» actor stated in the documentary’s third episode that he «still can’t say» that Jackson is guilty since «it still hasn’t been determined.»
«It’s one of those things where you don’t know what to believe because it’s so absurd that it’s the last thing that you would think,» he said.
Hart said on X and later on Twitter, «Mind blown…Hurt…at a loss for words and simply in complete disbelief at the moment,» following Jackson’s 2018 charges. Whoa.»
In a video he posted in October 2021, Hart addressed his followers while driving and declared that Jackson «can finally speak on» topics he was unable to discuss throughout the court proceedings since the accusations against him had been dropped.
Without getting into any of the details, he continued to convey a message about moving on from the case.
«I’m happy that we’re able to put a period on that sentence, and I’m excited to get back to life as we once knew it,» added the man. «I want to move on, put things behind me, and return to my previous way of living. This is a message about letting go. It’s finished.»
