'Empire' star, Terrence Howard scored high over his second ex-wife Michelle Ghent on Monday when a Los Angeles judge tossed out the divorce agreement, ruling in the actor's favor.
Terrence and Ghent have been battling over spousal support agreement, she wanted more than $5,800/month, which is what the actor is paying her. But Judge Thomas Trent Lewis took Howard's side, the judge believed that the agreement was signed under duress.
Howard claimed Ghent blackmailed him, forced him to sign the spousal agreement with the threat of releasing photos and videos of him nude.
While delivering his verdict, Lewis chided on Terrence's domestic abuse allegations, according to TMZ.
The judge said, "Terrence is a bully, but that doesn't mean he can't be bullied."
Howard and Ghent's relationship was acknowledged by the judge as a "difficult relationship." The couple will have to negotiate their agreement in a family law court.
"The ruling recognizes that divorce decrees signed with a proverbial gun to one's head cannot withstand judicial scrutiny," Howard's lawyer Brian Kramer said in a statement to PEOPLE.
As for Howard, also in a statement released to PEOPLE, he told them, "I could not be any more pleased by today's ruling. I am grateful to my attorney and his team, whose skill and tireless efforts enabled me to secure this terrific ruling from the Court."
It was in May when Howard's legal team filed in court allegations that the actor was blackmailed by Ghent into signing divorce papers. In the legal docs Ghent is entitled to his earnings, including his 'Empire' salary, TMZ reported.
The legal docs filed by Terrence's attorney noted that he agreed to pay her due to the threat of having private photos and videos of him exposed if her conditions were not meet.
One of the recorded conversations said, "I can make a good $2 million right now ... you want to see your little **** out there in front of TV?"
