Terrence Howard’s former talent management company claims the actor owes them money and is suing him for allegedly breaking the terms of a verbal contract.
Court papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to The Hollywood Reporter, state that Authentic Talent and Literary Management believes it served “a key role in the resurgence of Howard’s career” while “providing professional, personal, and other advice and career guidance to him” after Howard began working with them in 2013.
The talent firm CAA also represented Howard and, according to the filings, helped him “procure” his role as Lucious Lyon on Empire. But Authentic says their conversations with Howard ultimately led to his accepting the role. The company further claims it saved Howard from being fired from Empire at one point. Via THR:
Howard fired Authentic, but the firm now asserts entitlement to 10 percent of all gross revenue he received from entertainment industry employment obtained during the time of representation.
According to the complaint, Howard has a contract to star on the show for seven seasons. Authentic wants a cut for the full term of this deal pursuant to promises as well as “custom, usage, and practice in the entertainment industry.”
Authentic alleges that Howard had followed through on paying “post-termination commissions” up until spring 2016 and then fell through on repeated promises to continue paying them.
The lawsuit states: “Howard has without justification failed and refused to pay Plaintiff any further post-termination commissions. He has failed to do so despite having received millions of dollars from EMPIRE and despite being in a position to receive millions more.” Howard has reportedly denied that he owes them money.
