Kevin Hart sued by former friend after sex tape scandal

Kevin Hart is being sued for breach of contract by a man who says he was wrongfully accused of trying to extort the comedian in his 2017 sex tape scandal.

Jonathan T. Jackson, known professionally as J.T. Jackson, filed a lawsuit against Hart in Los Angeles on Wednesday, alleging the comedian violated a settlement agreement that required him to declare Jackson's innocence in the case, according to a copy of the complaint provided to USA TODAY.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Hart for comment.

In 2018, Jackson was charged with attempting to extort Hart by threatening to release a video of the "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" star with a woman who was not his wife in Las Vegas. The charges were later dropped. Jackson denies the "baseless" extortion allegations and says he had no involvement in the creation or dissemination of the tape.

By 2021, Jackson says he entered into a written settlement agreement with Hart, which required the comedian to make a public statement exonerating Jackson. The wording of Hart's statement was "meticulously negotiated and detailed" in their contract, and he was to say in an Instagram video that Jackson "is not guilty and had nothing to do with it."

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However, the lawsuit says that Hart "willfully deviated" from the agreed upon language in his October 2021 statement, in which he said simply that the charges against Jackson "have been dropped" and that "I'm happy that that chapter of my life is over," without stating that Jackson had nothing to do with trying to extort him.

Hart's message failed to achieve the intended goal of clearing Jackson's name and restoring his reputation, the lawsuit said.

"Hart's statement dilutes this intent by framing the exoneration more as a conclusion to a chapter in Hart's own life rather than a clear and unequivocal exoneration of Plaintiff," per the suit.

This constituted a "profound and egregious breach" of contract, the suit alleges. Jackson also says that since Hart's alleged contract breach, he has had "enormous difficulties in obtaining acting roles."

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Additionally, Jackson alleges Hart and his team "fabricated evidence and provided misleading statements" that led to his wrongful arrest. Even after the charges against him were dropped, Jackson alleges the emotional stress of the situation exacerbated his PTSD, tarnished his public image and resulted in lost job opportunities.

Jackson's "legal exoneration, a pivotal moment, could not erase the years of adversity, missed opportunities, and emotional anguish inflicted upon Plaintiff and his family," the lawsuit states. "Despite the courtroom victory, the shadow of unfounded allegations persisted, casting a long and enduring stain exacerbated by Hart's role in shaping public opinion through negative media portrayal."

Jackson, who also alleges fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress, is seeking damages exceeding $12 million.

What Kevin Hart said about former friend J.T. Jackson

Prior to the 2021 settlement agreement, Hart addressed his sex tape scandal in the 2019 documentary series "Kevin Hart: Don't F--- This Up." The lawsuit alleges this documentary, which detailed the allegations and charges against Jackson, further damaged his reputation and career, and it calls for the false statements about him to be removed.

In the third episode of the documentary, the "Central Intelligence" actor said he "still can't say" that Jackson "is guilty because it still hasn't been determined."

"It's one of those things where you don't know what to believe because it's so absurd that it's the last thing that you would think," he added.

After Jackson was charged in 2018, Hart posted on X, then Twitter, "Mind blown...Hurt...at a lost for words and simply in complete disbelief at the moment. WOW."

In his video from October 2021, Hart, addressing followers while driving, said that after charges against Jackson were dropped, he "can finally speak on" things he could not before while the legal process was ongoing. He proceeded to deliver a message about moving on from the case, without speaking on any of the specifics.

"I'm happy that we're able to put a period on that sentence, and I'm excited to get back to life as we once knew it," he said. "I want to get back to life as I once knew it and put that behind me and move on. This message is about moving on. It's over."