Chris Brown’s Past Assault on Rihanna Used by Warner Bros in Defamation Case Defense

Chris Brown’s defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros has taken a turn as the company pushes back by citing his past legal troubles — including his 2009 assault of Rihanna. Brown originally sued the media giant over their documentary Chris Brown: A History of Violence, which included various allegations of sexual misconduct and violence.

In his lawsuit, Brown claimed the film defamed him by including statements from a woman whose previous sexual assault accusation against him had been dismissed as false. He accused Warner Bros of knowingly spreading misinformation for the sake of attention and profit.

In response, Warner Bros has filed a motion to dismiss the case, submitting multiple news reports outlining Brown’s past legal issues — including his guilty plea for assaulting Rihanna, as well as a restraining order obtained by ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran in 2017 after he allegedly harassed her with threatening messages.

Warner Bros argues that the documentary draws on well-documented public incidents and media reports, asserting that the film is protected under their right to free speech. Their legal team stated that all the materials submitted are intended to show the film was created in the context of Brown’s well-known history, not to defame him.

Chris Brown has not yet responded to Warner Bros’ filing, and the court has not decided whether the case will move forward.