'EMPIRE' Sued.

[Bliss]

Has anyone watched this show? I have not, but my girlfriend is addicted and keeps insisting l come there and watch every episode On Demand. Swears l will be hooked. IDK tho...

"YOU STOLE MY LIFE STORY!!"

TMZ.com 5 hours ago

A friend of the Jackson family is suing Terrence Howard, Lee Daniels, "Empire" and others, claiming the hit show is a carbon copy of his film about his life as a "gangster, pimp and drug dealer."

Ron Newt, who describes himself as a "known ghetto player" claims he met with Terrence at the Four Seasons hotel a while back and they discussed Ron's documentary, "Bigger than Big." Ron says Terrence connected to it, and said he wanted to play him in the film.*

Fast forward to January, when "Empire" debuted to huge ratings. Ron says the similarities are more than suspicious.

-- "Empire" ... 4 drug dealers killed. "Bigger than Big" script: 4 drug dealers were killed.

-- "Empire" *... Lucious shot his long-time friend. BTB: Prince shoots his friend.

-- "Empire" has a round table. BTB: Round table!

-- "Empire" ... Cookie goes to jail for drugs. BTB: China Doll goes to jail for drugs.

-- "Empire" ... Cookie is released from prison. BTB: *China Doll released from the big house.

-- "Empire" ... Cookie with hat. BTB: *China Doll with hat.

Ron has a colorful history. He says in 1989 he signed a multi-million dollar deal with Michael Jackson and Death Row Records. *

As for the "Empire" lawsuit ... he wants a billion dollars

 

[samson1701]

Empire is one of my guilty pleasures. Very over the top, but in an entertaining way. Think of it as a new century, "Dynasty" style tv show set in the music industry. It's a lot of fun if you don't take it too seriously.

As for this guy's case, it will get thrown out. The scripts were done before Terrence Howard's involvement, I believe. He won't see a dime. I doubt it makes it to court. But, anything is possible, I guess.

 

[Otis]

I myself hate singing-and-dancing shows (for reasons that I won't get into). So no, I will not watch the show.

HOWEVERRRRRRR, I wouldn't put it past the creators of the show to have lifted the theme, plotlines & such from this guy. I'm convinced people in the game do this kinda crap to the outsiders they see as easy marks.

I don't know the details, but it seems likely that they pounced on the dude when he didn't have his deal properly protected. That's pure speculation, but the guy's beef could have merit.

 

[Peach State Scholar]

Empire is one of my guilty pleasures. Very over the top, but in an entertaining way. Think of it as a new century, "Dynasty" style tv show set in the music industry. It's a lot of fun if you don't take it too seriously.

As for this guy's case, it will get thrown out. The scripts were done before Terrence Howard's involvement, I believe. He won't see a dime. I doubt it makes it to court. But, anything is possible, I guess.

Plus a lot of those "similarities" are in every other show on television. Drug dealers being shot? People going to prison and getting back out? People wearing hats? Under that logic, the creators of Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, Justified, The Shield, and a dozen other shows could be sued, too.

In all honesty I haven't seen either that movie or the TV show but nearly everything mentioned in the article is a trope that's been used in movies and television for decades. If he can't show any more than what's in the article I'd be surprised if his lawsuit gets that far.

 

[andreboba]

Any rags to riches 'hood drama is going to have similarities. The experiences are in many ways commonplace.

Just like most mafia flicks have similarities. The retired pimp is still hustling.

 

[GFunk]

There was no Death Row in 89