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Judge Tosses Brown's Defamation Suit Against Doc Makers
14 Jan
Summary
- Judge dismissed Chris Brown's $500 million lawsuit on January 12, 2026.
- The singer sued over a documentary airing allegations of abuse.
- The judge cited insufficient evidence of malice and protected reporting.
Chris Brown's $500 million defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros Discovery and the production company behind the documentary "Chris Brown: A History of Violence" has been dismissed. On January 12, 2026, a California judge ruled that the singer did not meet the burden of proof required for defamation claims, particularly for a public figure.
The lawsuit, filed in January 2025, alleged the documentary unfairly presented false narratives about abuse and sexual assault allegations. Brown's team argued the film damaged his reputation and cost him opportunities. However, the judge found that the documentary adhered to journalistic standards and did not demonstrate "actual malice" by the filmmakers.
The dismissal represents a significant legal setback for Brown. The judge noted that the film presented information fairly and that Brown's legal team failed to provide sufficient evidence proving the documentary's content was intentionally false or recklessly disregarded the truth, ultimately classifying the film as protected reporting.
