'Empire' lead actor embroiled in alleged sex tape saga

12 August 2015 - 15:09 By Bang Showbiz

Terrence Howard's ex-wife reportedly tried to extort him over a threesome sex tape, his sister-in-law has testified. The Empire actor is trying to get his divorce settlement from Michelle Ghent - who he married in January 2010, but split from 11 months later, with their divorce finalised in May 2013 - thrown out on grounds he signed it under duress, and his sister-in-law Yvonne Howard testified in his defence yesterday.According to Yvonne, Ghent said she ''had him by the balls'' and claimed to have footage of the 46-year-old star having sex with one woman, with another woman also present and filming, TMZ reports. Howard paid Michelle $5,800 a month for three years but has claimed his former spouse threatened him with the release of sex tapes and intimate photos in order to get more money than she was entitled to receive. The case comes shortly after Ghent claimed the actor had threatened to kill her during a heated argument in Costa Rica in 2013. Though she alleged Howard grabbed her by the neck, pushed her against the bathroom wall and began strangling her, he has has insisted it was mutual combat, claiming she pepper spayed him during the fight.Back in June 2013, Ghent filed legal documents alleging she was sucker punched by the actor, and claimed the argument occurred because he asked if they could rekindle their romance in the wake of their divorce. In the original documents, she claimed she pepper sprayed him because Howard walked over to a bedside table where he kept a knife which was four to six inches in length, and at that point she claimed the actor knocked her down and kicked her repeatedly in the head. In addition to a black eye, Ghent said she had contusions and swelling...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.