Kevin Hart is embroiled in a legal battle with his former assistant and a YouTuber over allegations of extortion and defamation. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses YouTuber Tasha K, whose real name is Latasha Kebe, of attempting to extort $250,000 from Hart by threatening to release a defamatory interview with his former personal assistant, Miesha Shakes.
According to the complaint, Shakes made false statements during the interview, including claims that Hart faced criminal charges related to recording a sexual encounter. Tasha K, known for her celebrity gossip channel with over a million subscribers, has a history of legal troubles. In March, a federal appeals court upheld a $4 million judgment against her for making defamatory claims about rapper Cardi B.
Hart’s lawsuit alleges that an unidentified affiliate of Kebe contacted him in November, threatening to publish the damaging interview unless he paid the $250,000 ransom. Hart refused to pay, contacted law enforcement, and sent a cease-and-desist letter to Kebe. In the letter, Hart’s lawyer, Donte Mills, warned that any damages resulting from Kebe’s actions would not be dischargeable in bankruptcy.
The suit details a teaser for the interview posted in November, in which Kebe allegedly threatens Hart, saying, “When you don’t pay, we have to get money by any means necessary.” Hart also claims that Shakes violated her confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements by discussing confidential business and personal information related to him.
Shakes, who worked for Hartbeat Productions from 2017 to 2020, claimed in the interview that Hart was a serial cheater and gambling addict who paid an associate millions to take DUI charges for him. The interview was published in December on Kebe’s website, accessible only through a monthly subscription fee.
Hart’s lawsuit points to statements regarding his involvement in certain legal disputes, including the claim that he recorded a video of a sexual encounter and faced criminal charges related to the incident. To win the case, Hart will need to prove that Shakes acted with malice or recklessness, a high standard for public figures alleging defamation.
Kebe faces claims for extortion, intentional interference with contractual relations, and invasion of privacy but is not accused of defamation. A representative for Kebe urged people to “watch the full interview.”
In 2017, Hart publicly apologized for cheating on his wife with a woman who allegedly tried to extort him. This incident is part of a broader legal saga involving Hart and his former friend Jonathan “J.T.” Jackson. Jackson has filed a $12 million breach of contract lawsuit against Hart, alleging that Hart failed to “publicly exonerate” him of extortion allegations related to the 2017 sex tape scandal.
Jackson’s lawsuit claims that Hart’s social media post in October 2021, which discussed the scandal, was part of a “meticulously negotiated” settlement agreement. According to Jackson, Hart was contractually obligated to use specific language to clear Jackson’s name, but Hart’s statement fell short of this requirement.
In his Instagram video, Hart said, “J.T. Jackson has recently been found not guilty, and those charges have been dropped against him, and I can finally speak on what I once couldn’t.” However, Jackson argues that Hart’s statement did not fully exonerate him and instead framed the exoneration as a conclusion to a chapter in Hart’s life.
Jackson’s lawsuit also alleges that Hart and his lawyers played a significant role in the events leading to his arrest. Jackson claims that Hart’s team misled investigators about key evidence, resulting in a raid on his home and his eventual arrest. Jackson maintains that he never committed a crime, did not sell the video, and never extorted anyone.
The lawsuit further alleges that false accusations led to Jackson’s arrest and that Hart’s statements in his Netflix docuseries “Don’t F**K This Up” caused lasting harm to Jackson’s career and well-being. Jackson, a Navy veteran, claims that the fallout from the scandal exacerbated his service-related PTSD and caused significant mental health struggles.
Jackson is suing Hart and Hartbeat Productions for breach of written contract, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He seeks at least $12 million in real damages and additional punitive damages to be determined at trial.
“This entire ordeal has caused profound emotional distress and significant professional setbacks for both my wife and me,” Jackson said in a statement. “Despite everything, I still wish him well. But it’s been three years since Kevin promised to help clear my name, to no avail. So here we are. Through this lawsuit, I aim to restore my reputation, seek accountability, and ensure that such injustices do not happen to others.”
Source: Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter
