'Love and Hip Hop Atlanta' Memphitz Files Lawsuit Against Producers for 'Irreparable Damage'
Reality TV Star Lawsuit Claims Character Assassination
Mickey "Memphitz" Wright, the ex-boyfriend of "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta" star Kimberly "K. Michelle" Pate, has filed a lawsuit against the Vh1 network, which airs the show, and Mona Scott-Young, who produces it. He's arguing that the reality show has tarnished his reputation and caused "irreparable damage."
The reality TV star has been mired in controversy following claims made by K. Michelle; she alleges that he repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her 8-year-old son's life during their relationship. K. Michelle's alleged emotional wounds stemming from the assaults have been infused as plot lines throughout the first season of the popular reality TV show, which Memphitz claims has helped defame his character.
"My family and I have suffered tremendously while Vh1-1, Monami Ent., and the other companies provided a worldwide platform for K. Michelle to repeatedly assassinate my character. The filing of this suit is to compensate for the irreparable damage that has been done to my reputation and to deter these companies from doing such future harm to others," Memphitz said in a public statement.
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Memphitz, who is featured alongside his wife Toya and their kids on the BET reality show "Toya: A Family Affair," is suing Viacom International; NFGTC, Inc.; and Mona's Monami Entertainment.
K. Michelle, 26, insists that she was subject to regular abuse during her relationship with Memphitz and viewers of "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta" witnessed as she would often recount alleged incidents of abuse and subsequently break down when she became overwhelmed with emotions.
The mother of one has since gone on to become a spokesperson against domestic violence, all of which Memphitz and his attorney have criticized because they claim she has no proof of abuse.
"[K. Michelle] has taken full advantage of society's tendency to accept claims of domestic violence as always being true, even in the absence of proof. The only abuse that actually occurred is the malicious and calculated pattern of vicious lies Ms. Pate has assailed for the purpose of fabricating a compelling story line in an attempt to ruin [Memphitz's] name," Conti J. Moore of Conti Moore Law, PLLC said in a statement.
"Domestic violence is an issue of serious nature, often having grave consequences for true victims with whom we all sympathize. However, it is unconscionable for one to play on the sympathies of the masses by levying false accusations of such heinous acts against an innocent party, simply for the sake of entertainment or for purported career advancement. After reviewing the evidence in this matter, we are prepared to litigate this case to the fullest extent of the law to seek justice for our client and to restore his name and professional reputation," Memphitz's attorney added.
