Terrence Howard agreed to a 2012 divorce settlement with his ex-wife Michelle Ghent because he was afraid she would leak private details about his sex life, his attorney said during opening statements at a hearing involving the actor's efforts to overturn the agreement.
Terrence’s sister-in-law, Yvonne Howard, testified on his behalf in a Los Angeles court hearing, claiming that Michelle said she “had him [Terrence] by the balls,” according to TMZ.
Michelle Ghent allegedly has a sex tape of Terrence having sex with a woman while with another woman who was watching and filming them.
Michelle was using this information to her benefit, by blackmailing him with the tape in order to receive more money. The outlet reports that she got $5,800 a month for three years, despite only being married for one year.
Terrence Howard is an American actor and singer who has an estimated net worth of $30 million according to The Richest.
The 46-year-old actor hopes that with the new information and evidence, a judge will throw out the divorce settlement, which includes another year of spousal support.
Howard married Michelle Ghent in 2010, and just a year later, the marriage went sour. The couple’s divorce was finalized in 2013 and Ghent later filed a lawsuit that granted her money from Howard’s 'Empire' earnings.
Judge Thomas Trent Lewis ruled Tuesday that Ghent's testimony will be limited because she did not file certain pleadings before the hearing.
The judge also said Howard could only present evidence of duress and extortion attempts that happened outside of the pair's mediation in 2012.
The agreement gave Ghent several bank accounts and left Howard with responsibility for several debts, including tax liens. The settlement also called for him to pay his wife a share of his earnings in spousal support.
Terrence’s attorney, Brian Kramer, said that he would play an audio recording of Michelle’s threats in order to show her “heavy-handed acts of extortion and blackmail,” according to CBS.
Michelle’s lawyers said she denied the allegations during a deposition.
