Singer Chris Brown is suing Warner Bros. over a documentary that aired last year, which included accusations of sexual assault. The film, titled *Chris Brown: A History of Violence*, was released in October 2024 and featured allegations from an anonymous dancer, referred to as Jane Doe, who claimed Brown raped her on a yacht in 2020.
In a legal statement, Brown’s attorneys described the documentary as “defamatory,” asserting that the claims made by the dancer were “baseless” and “sensationalized.” They further accused Warner Bros. and production company Ample of “recklessly damaging” his reputation. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, seeks $500 million in damages.
Brown’s lawyers contended that the documentary was misleading, pointing to evidence tampering and unsubstantiated allegations. They argued that Warner Bros. and Ample ignored warnings from Brown’s legal team and released the documentary “prioritizing profits over journalistic integrity.”
The complaint casts doubt on the reliability of the dancer’s testimony and highlights three false claims made in the documentary: that Brown has a “predisposition for punching women in the face,” that he raped the dancer, and that he manipulated or deleted text messages before providing them to authorities. His lawyers also argued that the documentary portrayed him as a “serial rapist and sexual abuser.”
Brown, 35, claims the accusations have caused emotional distress and significantly harmed his reputation, career, and business opportunities. He argues the documentary has “irreparably tarnished” his public image.
The dancer had previously sued Brown in 2022 for $20 million, alleging he drugged and raped her during a yacht party in Miami, Florida. That lawsuit was reportedly dismissed by a judge.
Brown has faced legal troubles throughout his career, including a 2009 assault conviction involving then-girlfriend Rihanna. He has also faced accusations in the past, including a 2014 incident in Washington, D.C., where he pleaded guilty to punching a man. However, his lawyers stress that he has never been convicted of a sexual crime.
Brown’s lawyer, Levi McCathern, stated that the actions of Warner Bros. and Ample “undermine not only Mr. Brown’s decade-long efforts to rebuild his life but also the credibility of true survivors of violence.” He added that any damages awarded would be donated to survivors of sexual violence.
