Tyrese Speaks Out After Suing Teddy Pendergrass’ Wife For Rights To His Biopic: ‘I Owe It To My Mother & Teddy To Get This Done!’

October 1, 2023 by Kay Johnson in Film with 0 Comments

Tyrese, Teddy Pendergrass, Joan Pendergrass

Tyrese Speaks Out After Suing Teddy Pendergrass’ Wife For Rights To His Biopic: ‘I Owe It To My Mother & Teddy To Get This Done!’

Looks like Tyrese is currently in the middle of another lawsuit.

Reportedly, the music and movie star recently took legal action against the wife of late singer Teddy Pendergrass over the rights to the musician’s life story.

As we covered back in 2019, Tyrese Gibson, 44, was tapped to play famed musician Teddy Pendergrass in his life movie following his death in 2010. If you recall, the Grammy nominated singer, real name Theodore Pendergrass, passed away due to respiratory failure following a short battle with colon cancer. While not much has been mentioned about the film since Lee Daniels signed onto the project, reports state the Tyrese recently sued Pendergrass‘ wife for reportedly denying him the rights to her husband’s life story. Addressing the lawsuit online, Tyrese wrote on instagram:

“Sadly things had to come to this….This has been 13 years+ years in the makin this man embraced me when he was on this earth and shared to me “No one can play me in my biopic but you Tyrese I’m sure of it” -TP”

He continued:

“Hearing those words coming from him as one could imagine put me in under an unbearable amount of pressure but I knew that I was BORN to play Teddy Pendergrass The first person I called was my mother RIP and shared the news she’s SCREAMED!!!! My mother was the BIGGEST TEDDY PENDERGRASS FAN ON EARTH! She couldn’t believe it….There is nothing more uncomfortable than trying to create magic with inexperienced creatives!”

Tyrese went on to express his hopes that “this will all be figured out”, noting that creating biopics are historically difficult due to the many “narratives” and “nuances” around creating such a project. Explaining the emotional reasoning behind fighting for the film to be released, he added:

“I owe it to my mother and Teddy to get this done!! Teddy Movie will happen!…@LeeDaniels, Charlie Mack aka @charliemackfirstout who drove me to Teddy’s home where the journey first began! I love you both and I am forever indebted to you both and Warner Brothers for being so passionately committed to the legacy and STORY!…I hate that things had to come to this but God knows my HEART! I Tyrese Gibson was born to play TEDDY!”

Tyrese & his mother

Ending with:

“Don’t call or text me…. Call Joan Pendergrass she’s the ONLY one standing in the way of Teddy’s story being told!…For now…. Go online and watch the TEDDY PENDERGRASS DOCUMENTARY!…It’s entitled [ IF YOU DON’t KNOW ME ]”

According to reports, Tyrese’s media company Voltron Entertainment acquired the rights to the Pendergrass story back in 2011. In the suit, the “Fast & Furious” star reportedly claims that the soul singer’s wife Joan Pendergrass authorized the deal at the time, and agreed that his company would release a book and movie about the “Close the Door” artists upbringing and career, in exchange for investing the funding needed to create and promote the projects.

Joan Pendergrass

The legal document reportedly adds that Tyrese’s company has since funneled nearly $450,000 into the two projects, which were moving forward up until 2022. Reportedly, the singer turned actor claims Joan halted the creative venture by refusing to extend the option on the right’s Teddy’s story. Thus, forcing him to take legal action. The report notes that Tyrese is reportedly suing Joan “in her individual capacity and as executor of Teddy’s estate”, and is seeking $1 million in damages for the financial harm his company reportedly suffered.