Chris Brown’s Defamation Lawsuit Over ‘A History of Violence’ Documentary Dismissed by Judge

A judge has officially dismissed Chris Brown’s $500 million defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, ruling that Investigation Discovery followed proper journalistic standards in its 2024 documentary examining allegations of domestic violence and sexual abuse involving the singer.

According to Complex, the ruling came down on January 12, when the court sided with Warner Bros. Discovery, Investigation Discovery, and Ample Entertainment — the production company behind Chris Brown: A History of Violence. Brown originally filed the lawsuit last year, claiming the documentary was filled with false and misleading information.

At the center of Brown’s complaint was a woman featured in the film who alleged that Brown raped her in 2020 aboard a yacht owned by Diddy. Brown has consistently denied the accusation, arguing the woman’s story contained inconsistencies and that key text messages were omitted when she reported the incident to Miami police.

However, the judge dismissed the lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP law, which is designed to protect free speech and prevent lawsuits from being used to intimidate or silence journalists. Under this law, Brown was required to show that his case had legitimate legal merit — something the court ruled he failed to do.

In the court order, Judge Colin Leis stated that he personally watched the entire documentary and concluded it presented both sides fairly. He also noted that the film included many of the same inconsistencies Brown highlighted in his lawsuit, including references to the disputed text messages.

While the ruling is a major win for Investigation Discovery, Brown still has the option to appeal the decision if he chooses.