Kevin Hart is facing a $12 million lawsuit from his former friend, Jonathan “J.T.” Jackson, over allegations related to a 2017 sex tape scandal. Jackson claims that Hart failed to honor a settlement agreement that was supposed to clear his name. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accuses Hart of breaching a written contract, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The controversy dates back to 2017 when a sex tape featuring Hart and a woman named Montia Sabbag surfaced. The tape showed Hart engaging in intimate activities in a Las Vegas hotel room, while his wife, Eniko Parrish, was pregnant. Hart publicly apologized to his wife and children, admitting to infidelity and calling it a “bad error in judgment.” Amid reports of an extortion attempt, Hart chose to come clean rather than allow the extortionist to profit.
Jackson, a Navy veteran, professional bowler, and actor, was implicated in the scandal. In January 2018, his home was raided by investigators from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who were looking into allegations of extortion. Jackson was held at gunpoint during the raid, which he believes was initiated by Hart. Although the charges were eventually dropped, Jackson’s reputation suffered significantly.
In 2021, Jackson and Hart reached a settlement agreement. According to the lawsuit, Hart was contractually obligated to use specific language in a public statement to exonerate Jackson. The agreed-upon wording was crucial for repairing Jackson’s tarnished reputation. The statement was supposed to acknowledge that all charges against Jackson had been dropped, that he was not guilty, and that he had no involvement in the extortion plot. Additionally, Hart was to express regret over losing a valuable friendship due to the legal debacle.
However, when Hart addressed the scandal in an October 2021 Instagram video, he deviated from the agreed-upon language. Hart stated that “J.T. Jackson has recently been found not guilty, and those charges have been dropped against him,” but he did not explicitly declare Jackson’s innocence or non-involvement. Hart also mentioned that their friendship was lost due to the legal process but did not acknowledge the significant personal and professional toll on Jackson.
Jackson’s attorney, Daniel L. Reback, argued that Hart’s statement deviated significantly from the agreed-upon verbiage. The lawsuit claims that Hart’s failure to adhere to the contract deprived Jackson of the benefit of the deal, which was supposed to help restore his reputation and allow him to resume his professional life with integrity.
In addition to the $12 million in damages, Jackson is seeking punitive damages, legal costs, and fees. He also wants injunctions requiring the defendants to exonerate him and remove all false statements about him in the 2019 Netflix docuseries “Don’t F— This Up,” which mentioned the extortion allegations.
Jackson stated, “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.”
Hart has not yet responded to the lawsuit. Over the years, he has spoken publicly about the sex tape saga, repeatedly apologizing to his wife and acknowledging his mistakes. In a 2017 Instagram video, Hart admitted to being “beyond irresponsible” and expressed regret over his actions.
The lawsuit adds another layer to the ongoing legal battles surrounding the 2017 scandal. Both Jackson and Hart were previously sued for $60 million by Montia Sabbag, the woman in the tape, but that lawsuit was ultimately dismissed, and Jackson was cleared of all allegations.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Jackson hopes to achieve vindication and restore his tarnished reputation. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities and long-lasting impacts of public scandals, especially when they involve high-profile individuals like Kevin Hart.
Source: The Times, TMZ, In Touch
