Terry Crews, star of the popular TV series Brooklyn Nine-Nine is suing WME agent Adam Venit who he says sexually assaulted him at a party in February of last year. Crews first came forward with the allegations in October, without naming Venit. WME is one of the top entertainment agencies in the country.
“He literally takes his hand and puts it and squeezes my genitals,” Crews said, adding that he jumped back and asked him “what are you doing?” Crews also said that Venit came back to him a second time and he “pushed him back.” In Crews’ lawsuit documents, he is seeking damages for assault, battery, sexual battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and negligent retention and supervision.
The lawsuit also states that the day after the alleged incident, Crews “received a call from Venit who apologized and claimed he was just not himself that night.” It’s also stated in the documents that Crews “seeks to hold Venit, and his employer, WME, accountable for the February 4, 2016 blatant an unprovoked sexual assault perpetrated by Venit on Crews.”
“This is not about revenge, this is not about get back, but it’s just the fact that…I’m sorry and an apology is when you step on somebody’s toe by mistake,” Crews said. “But when you stab them, when you intentionally hurt them, when you run them over, apologies just don’t do. ‘I’m sorry, my bad’ does not work…people need to be held accountable.”
He continued, “And what’s happened is people tend to hide behind the gigantic structures and powers that be and principalities and you’re standing behind their leg and hoping they protect you from your evil deeds.”
Crews, who also reported the incident to the Los Angeles police, says his lawsuit is being filed primarily to send the message. “hey you cannot treat people like this.”
Back in November, WME told ABC News, “Adam Venit was suspended following the internal investigation into the matter.” Venit went back to work at the end of November following a month of unpaid suspension.
Crews reacted to the news on Twitter, “SOMEONE GOT A PASS.”
Maaad respect to Crews for coming forward. Its often difficult to talk about sexual assault, particularly for men and Crews was trolled on social media for doing so. His beautiful African American wife is standing by her man. I commend Crews for standing up and telling the world this behavior is unacceptable. Follow me @JazD1 on twitter, Instagram and Facebook
Source: TIBRINA HOBSON / Getty
