LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Terrence Howard began testifying Thursday in a hearing in which the “Empire” star is attempting to overturn a 2012 divorce settlement on the grounds his ex-wife extorted him.
Howard took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom and began testifying about the settlement agreement before a judge stopped the inquiry to decide legal issues.
Attorneys for Howard’s ex-wife, Michelle Ghent, contend that Howard cannot testify about any discussions the pair had during a four-month period between when the pair engaged in mediation and when it was signed.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas Trent Lewis is considering how much testimony about the discussions between Howard and Ghent can be offered.
Ghent has accused the actor of domestic abuse and said he owes her money promised in the agreement.
The Oscar-nominated actor claims Ghent threatened to leak personal information, including images of him naked and a sex tape, if he didn’t meet her terms.
Ghent’s lawyers say she denied during a deposition that she blackmailed her husband.
Audio of Ghent berating Howard and threatening to sell a video of him dancing naked in the bathroom was played for a judge Tuesday. The audio was recorded in 2011.
Howard received a best actor Oscar nomination for 2005’s “Hustle & Flow.”
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Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP
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