Sean Penn is suing Lee Daniels for $10 million, saying the “Empire” creator falsely accused Penn of hitting women.

Sean Penn. Photo by Sachyn Mital via Wikimedia Commons
Sean Penn. Photo by Sachyn Mital via Wikimedia Commons
“[Terrence] ain’t done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he’s some f—in’ demon,” Daniels told The Hollywood Reporter in reference to Howard’s recent legal troubles. “That’s a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America.”

In a defamation suit filed Tuesday in New York Supreme Court, Penn’s lawyers Mathew Rosengart and Anne Reddy argue:

“As a result of Penn’s status as a public figure, he has for years been the subject of scandalous, scurrilous, and baseless attacks. But Penn, like any citizen, has a right to defend himself and will no longer tolerate the reckless and malicious behavior of others, who seek to aggrandize themselves or their projects at his expense. Accordingly, and because of Daniels’ defamatory statements, Penn brings this action for monetary relief, and to deter Daniels and others from their defamatory actions.

The lawsuit (posted here) adds: “Daniels falsely equates Penn with Howard, even though, while he has certainly had several brushes with the law, Penn (unlike Howard) has never been arrested, much less convicted, for domestic violence, as his ex-wives (including Madonna) would confirm and attest.”

Others have said worse about Penn. Social media weighed in:

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