July 11th 2024.
Kevin Hart is facing a new legal battle, as his former friend Jonathan "J.T." Jackson has filed a lawsuit against him. According to Jackson, Hart violated their agreement during the aftermath of the 2017 sex tape scandal that involved Hart.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles, is seeking $12 million in damages for breach of contract. Jackson claims that Hart's recent social media post on October 27, 2021, did not follow their carefully negotiated plan to clear Jackson's name in the scandal and subsequent felony extortion case. Rolling Stone reported that Jackson had a small role in the film Think Like a Man Too, which starred Hart, Gabrielle Union, Terrence J., Regina Hall, and others.
Jackson's lawsuit states that Hart was contractually obligated to publicly exonerate him using specific language. This included acknowledging that Jackson had been fully cleared of any involvement in the extortion plot and that the scandal had caused a valuable friendship to be lost.
However, Jackson alleges that Hart blatantly broke their agreement. In a 2017 Instagram video, Hart stated, "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." He also mentioned that their friendship was "lost," but did not include the line about Jackson having nothing to do with the scandal.
According to Jackson, the wording of Hart's statement was crucial in repairing the damage done to his reputation by the baseless extortion allegations that Hart had promoted and publicized. Despite Hart seemingly moving on from the situation, Jackson claims that he suffered emotional distress in the years that followed. He also alleges that Hart and his lawyers played a role in his 2018 arrest, in which law enforcement officers raided his home with guns drawn.
The events leading up to the lawsuit began in August 2017 when Hart and Jackson took a trip to Las Vegas. A few weeks later, Hart's wife received an anonymous message claiming that he was cheating on her. The message also included a Dropbox link to the sex tape, which was allegedly recorded from Hart's private suite at a hotel. In the tape, Hart is seen engaging in intercourse with model Montia Sabbag.
Jackson states that the scandal and its aftermath caused him to suffer profound harm and emotional distress, specifically in the failed extortion case against him. He also mentions Hart's Netflix docuseries, Don't F**k This Up, which he claims is a constant reminder of what happened to him. In an episode of the series, Hart stated that the incident that ended their friendship was "tough to talk about."
As a Navy veteran, Jackson also claims that the fallout from the scandal exacerbated his service-related PTSD and caused significant mental health struggles. He and his wife have also faced professional setbacks as a result.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Jackson expresses his disappointment in the situation, saying, "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." He hopes that through this lawsuit, he can restore his reputation, seek accountability, and prevent similar injustices from happening to others.
Jackson's lawsuit is seeking damages for breach of contract, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He is also asking for punitive damages to be determined at trial. This case is similar to another lawsuit filed against Kanye West and Milo Yiannopoulos by former Yeezy employees, who allege racism and discrimination.
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