Terrence Howard Sues Fox Over Missing 'Empire' Checks, $1.3 Million Owed To Ex-Wife Screwing With His Money
By Ryan Naumann on March 9, 2020 at 9:27 AM EDT
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Terrence Howard’s company is accusing 20th Century Fox of refusing to pay up on money owed for his work on “Empire”
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Howard’s company Universal Bridges is suing 20th Century Fox Film Corporation for breach of contract.
Universal Bridges is Howard’s loan-out company that is run by his current fiancé Mira Howard (the two were first married in 2013 but divorced in 2015. They reconciled and are currently engaged to be married for a second time.)
In the docs, Universal Bridges says Fox agreed to pay Howard through the loan-out company for his work on “Empire.” The studio was paying Howard until recently.
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The actor continues to act on the show to this date. However, his company accuses Fox of failing to pay him for the last three produced episodes “even though it was contractually obligated to do so.”
Universal Bridges is suing for the court to order Fox owes Howard the money for the episodes and attorney fees.
The issue over the paychecks appears to stem from Howard’s ex-wife, Michelle Ghent, attempting to collect on $1.3 million owed to her.
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As The Blast first reported, 20th Century Fox filed a separate lawsuit against Howard and Universal Bridges. In the suit, Fox revealed Ghent served them with legal documents demanding they hand over all Howard’s checks.
The suit explained Howard and Ghent were in the middle of a nasty divorce battle over money. In August, a judge ordered Howard to pay Ghent $1.3 million in back spousal support along with extra money due to his increase in income. The breakdown came to $263,000 owed in back support and another $1.05 million due to his increase in income since the divorce settlement.
Ghent is currently attempting to collect on the $1.3 million. Howard filed an appeal of the divorce judgment and believes enforcement is stayed, meaning it is put on pause until the outcome of his appeal.
Fox’s lawsuit is asking the court to tell them who is owed the money. They don’t want to pay the wrong person and be liable for damages.
