Chris Brown's Past With Rihanna Spotlighted In $500 Million Court Battle

Chris Brown's troubled history with Rihanna just got dragged back into the spotlight, this time as ammunition in a $500 million legal war with Warner Bros.

The singer is suing over the documentary "Chris Brown: A History of Violence," which producers claim falls under free speech. Their legal team insists the case has no standing, even as the film rehashes Brown's violent past.

Chris Brown dated Rihanna from 2007 to 2009 until their relationship ended in a now-infamous domestic violence case that has haunted his image ever since.

The R&B singer is suing Warner Bros. and the producers of "Chris Brown: A History of Violence" for defamation, but they are firing back with new evidence meant to shut the case down.

Warner Bros. submitted multiple media reports documenting Brown's 2009 felony assault on Rihanna, including his guilty plea and court-ordered counseling.

Their legal team says these publicly available stories support their argument that the film is protected under free speech laws. In court filings obtained by In Touch, the producers argued:

"All of these exhibits consist of news articles, or other media, published online about the work at issue in this case and its subject matter, namely the Documentary and the widely publicized reporting of Chris Brown's criminal history and violence towards women, and are being introduced to demonstrate that the Complaint arises from acts in furtherance of Defendants' free speech rights."

While his violent 2009 incident with Rihanna remains the most widely known, the producers did not stop there. 

They also submitted press coverage about Brown's later relationship with Karrueche Tran, including the five-year restraining order she was granted in 2017, and reports of a physical altercation with singer Frank Ocean.

The publication highlights that documentary participant Michelle Taylor also pushed back. She claimed she did not make the specific statements Brown is contesting and stressed that everything shown was based on real, undisputed events that had already made headlines.

Taylor argued that the documentary only referenced facts that were "widely-reported, fully disclosed, and undisputed facts regarding [Chris'] highly-publicized assault of his ex-girlfriend Rihanna, as well as numerous incidents of [Chris] threatening or violently assaulting others—all of which are discussed in detail in the documentary."

Before their recent submission, The Blast reported that the entertainment giant and producers responded earlier in April, stating their comments in the documentary were protected under free speech.

Their attorney said Brown's claims lacked substance and insisted that the statements made were either accurate or not harmful in a legal sense.

They also argued that as a public figure, Brown had no evidence to prove the filmmakers acted with malice, a necessary standard in defamation cases.

Reports note that the defendants not only denied causing any emotional distress but also asked the court to make Brown cover their legal expenses.

Brown strongly denied accusations of sexual misconduct as he filed the $500 million lawsuit against the producers behind the "Chris Brown: A History of Violence" docuseries.

The songwriter argued that the documentary was filled with false information and defamatory statements, with Warner Bros. Discovery, Ample, and other involved parties singled out for spreading misleading narratives about him.

Brown insisted he has never been accused of or guilty of any sex-related offenses, rejecting the portrayal of him as a "serial rapist and sexual abuser." He also highlighted that one of the key figures in the docuseries had withdrawn her lawsuit, admitting her allegations were false.

Brown also claimed that the series unearthed painful memories and damaged his reputation. The father-of-three accused the production team of exploiting his past for profit and fame, pointing out that the documentary disregarded key evidence that could clear his name.

Brown noted that repairing his image has taken over a decade of hard work. He also emphasized his personal and professional growth while admitting to his past mistakes.

In the lawsuit, Brown demanded $500 million in damages, pledging to donate the funds to survivors of sexual abuse if he wins.

As this drama unfolds, only time will tell if Chris Brown can clear his name or if Warner Bros.'s free speech defense will prevail.