A US judge has dismissed Chris Brown’s US$500 million defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros Discovery and Investigation Discovery, ruling that the controversial documentary Chris Brown: A History of Violence met accepted journalistic standards.
According to AllHipHop.com, Judge Colin Leis found that the 2024 documentary fairly presented allegations of domestic and sexual abuse against the R&B singer and included Brown’s responses and denials, undermining claims that it was “full of lies and deception”.
The lawsuit centred on the documentary’s coverage of a woman who alleged that Brown raped her in 2020 on a yacht owned by music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Brown has consistently denied the allegation, arguing that the woman’s account was inconsistent and that the programme ignored evidence he says undermined her credibility, including text messages sent after she reported the incident to Miami police.
However, Judge Leis rejected that argument, saying the documentary explicitly addressed many of the inconsistencies raised by Brown.
“The court has personally viewed the entire documentary,” the judge wrote. “The documentary recites most of the inconsistencies plaintiff notes, including the existence of the text messages.”
The court further ruled that the media defendants had presented a “‘fair and true’ report of statements and the judicial record and proceedings,” effectively shielding them from liability under defamation law.
Brown had also objected to the inclusion of commentary by culture writer Scaachi Koul, who stated in the documentary that the singer had a “predisposition for punching women in the face”. Judge Leis dismissed this claim as well, noting that Brown has previously admitted to assaulting fellow singer Rihanna in 2009.
Brown filed the lawsuit nearly a year ago, seeking US$500 million in damages from Warner Bros Discovery and Ample Entertainment, the production company behind the documentary.
The ruling comes as the Grammy-winning artist continues to face separate legal troubles in the United Kingdom. Brown has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from an alleged assault at Tape London nightclub in February 2023, where prosecutors say he attacked music producer Amadou “Abe” Diaw with a tequila bottle.
Brown was arrested in London in May 2025 and initially denied bail before posting US$6.7 million, allowing him to continue with his Breezy Bowl XX tour. His co-accused, longtime collaborator Omololu Akinlolu, known professionally as HoodyBaby, has also pleaded not guilty.
The UK trial is scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026, with Brown facing a charge of attempting to unlawfully cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Source: AllHipHop.com
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