Sean Penn is slamming Lee Daniels with a $10 million lawsuit.
The actor is filing the suit thanks to remarks that the Empire creator made about him in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Daniels was commenting on Empire star Terrence Howard's history of domestic abuse when he compared him to Penn.
"[Terrence] ain't done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he's some f*ckin' demon," says Daniels. "That's a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America."
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Daniels is likely referring to Penn's rocky, highly-publicized marriage to Madonna. The actor allegedly abused the singer before she filed for divorce in 1988.
Representatives for Penn have shared his complaint with Mashable. Here's the opening paragraph:
"This action arises from reckless, false, and defamatory statements made by Defendant Lee Daniels ("Daniels") about one of this generation's most highly-acclaimed and greatest artists and humanitarians, Sean Penn. As a result of Penn's status as a public figure, he has for years been the subject of scandalous, scurrilous, and baseless attacks. But Penn, like any citizen, has a right to defend himself and will no longer tolerate the reckless and malicious behavior of others, who seek to aggrandize themselves or their projects at his expense. Accordingly, and because of Daniels' defamatory statements, Penn brings this action for monetary relief, and to deter Daniels and others from their defamatory actions."
The complaint goes on to say that "Daniels falsely equates Penn with Howard, even though, while he has certainly had several brushes with the law, Penn (unlike Howard) has never been arrested, much less convicted, for domestic violence, as his ex-wives (including Madonna) would confirm and attest."
It also states that Howard has "reportedly been arrested approximately five times for violent acts against women."
Additionally, the complaint gives background on Penn, calling him "an American icon" whose career "has spanned over three decades and includes five Academy Award nominations and two Academy Awards for Best Actor."
Representatives for Daniels have not yet responded to Mashable's request for comment.