Photo credit: Kevin Hart/Instagram
Kevin Hart’s former friend Jonathan “J.T.” Jackson is speaking out about their broken friendship and the legal battle that followed a 2017 sex tape scandal.
Jackson filed a $12 million lawsuit against Hart in July 2024. He alleges that the comedian failed to honor a settlement agreement designed to clear his name after prosecutors dropped the extortion charges against him.
The dispute ended a friendship Jackson described as lasting 16 years. Now, he wants to restore his reputation and hold Hart accountable for what he says happened.
J.T. Jackson Says the Allegations Damaged His Career
The legal dispute began after a video involving Hart and Montia Sabbag surfaced in 2017. The scandal later led to an investigation into allegations that someone tried to extort the comedian.
Authorities charged Jackson in 2018 in connection with the alleged extortion scheme. However, prosecutors dropped the charges in September 2021.
Jackson maintains that the allegations damaged his professional reputation and disrupted his career. He also claims that Hart’s public comments and Netflix documentary, Don’t F**k This Up, contributed to that damage.
In his lawsuit, Jackson argues that the allegations continued to affect his personal and professional life even after prosecutors dropped the charges.
Kevin Hart Accused of Breaking Settlement Promise
Jackson’s lawsuit focuses on a settlement agreement that he says he reached with Hart in July 2021.
According to the complaint, Hart agreed to issue a public statement that would explicitly clear Jackson of involvement in the alleged extortion plot. Jackson says the agreement also required Hart to acknowledge the impact the dispute had on their friendship.
However, Jackson alleges that Hart failed to use the wording they negotiated when he addressed the matter on Instagram in October 2021.
Hart said the charges against Jackson had been dropped and described the end of their friendship as painful. Jackson argues that Hart did not go far enough because he did not explicitly state that Jackson had nothing to do with the alleged extortion.
The lawsuit accuses Hart and his production company, Hartbeat, of breach of contract and other claims. Jackson is seeking $12 million, along with additional relief outlined in his complaint.
Jackson Says He Wants His Reputation Back
Jackson has maintained that restoring his reputation matters more than simply receiving financial compensation.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2024, he described Hart as someone he once considered a brother. He also said the dispute had caused emotional distress and professional setbacks for him and his wife.
Jackson’s legal action seeks to address what he views as an unfulfilled promise to clear his name. However, his allegations remain claims in a civil dispute, not findings of wrongdoing by a court.
Kevin Hart Has Not Publicly Responded to the Latest Claims
The lawsuit has renewed attention on the fallout between the former friends and the events surrounding the 2017 scandal.
When The Los Angeles Times reported the lawsuit in July 2024, Hart’s representatives had not responded to the outlet’s request for comment.
Jackson’s case centers on whether Hart fulfilled the terms of their settlement and whether the alleged breach caused further harm. The court proceedings will determine the legal merits of those claims.
For now, the dispute remains a public chapter in the breakdown of a friendship that Jackson says lasted 16 years.
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