*A talent management firm is suing Terrence Howard claiming he breached an oral contract by failing to pay over post-termination commissions.
In a complaint filed in L.A. Superior Court, Authentic Talent and Literary Management says Howard now owes several hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the payment allegedly due likely to rise, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Howard signed with Authentic Talent in 2013. According to the lawsuit, the company helped play “a key role in the resurgence of Howard’s career. In addition to defending Howard and providing professional, personal, and other advice and career guidance to him, along with Howard’s talent agents at the preeminent talent agency CAA, Plaintiff was an integral part of many discussions with Howard that led to his acceptance of the starring role of ‘Lucious Lyon’ on EMPIRE that had previously been procured for him by CAA.”
Howard fired Authentic, but the firm says it’s entitled to 10 percent of all gross revenue he received from entertainment industry employment obtained during the time of representation – which includes “Empire.”
According to the complaint, Howard has a contract to star on the show for seven seasons. Authentic wants a cut for the full term of this deal pursuant to promises as well as “custom, usage, and practice in the entertainment industry.”
The lawsuit states that the actor confirmed multiple times including a Sept. 2014 email that he would be paying post-termination commissions. Howard and his loan-out company are said to now dispute that they owe any further commissions in connection with “Empire.”
Additionally, Authentic alleges that it intervened and saved Howard’s job when executives at Imagine Entertainment wanted to terminate Howard from “Empire.” No details there are given.
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