Oprah’s OWN Sued by Salim Akil’s Alleged Rape Victim, Warner Bros TV Starts Investigation
Oprah’s OWN Sued by Salim Akil’s Alleged Rape Victim, Warner Bros TV Starts Investigation
It’s been less than 24 hours and new details have been released about the lawsuit that Salim Akil faces.
As previously reported, on November 20, actor Amber Dixon Brenner filed a lawsuit, accusing Salim of repeated
“non-consensual assault and battery.”
The suit also claims breach of contract over a screenplay that Salim is alleged to have reappropriated.
The actress alleges that she and Salim, who is married to executive producer and screenplay writer Mara Brock Akil, had an affair that lasted over ten years until 2017.
Reportedly, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network is also being affected by the suit. In addition to suing Mara and Salim, she is also suing OWN for copyright infringement.
She claims that Salim used her 2016 screenplay that she wrote about an abusive relationship to use as the basis for what became the OWN series, Love Is. She says the script was called “Love & Perversity in the East Village” and was intended for an ABC show that never made the air, but was eventually used for his “Love Is ___.” Brenner states she showed the script in hopes of another possible collaboration and the submission,
was made with the implied understanding that Salim would not use any of the ideas within LPEV without the involvement and compensation of Brenner.
The series is produced by Warner Horizon TV.
Also, Warner Bros TV has also started an investigation on the CW series, as Salim is the showrunner for its hit series, Black Lightning. It is said that the studio will be conducting an inquiry with cast and crew on the show, according to reports.
Defendants in the federal case have until December 28 to respond to the filing. OWN nor the Akil’s have yet to comment publicly or release a statement.
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