Celebrities Who Took Their Co-Stars to Court and Sued Them

Hollywood is known for its on-screen drama, but the legal side of the entertainment industry can be just as intense. While some actors build strong relationships with their colleagues, others end up in complicated and public lawsuits. These legal fights often stem from personal conflicts, disagreements over contracts, or accusations of wrongdoing that happen behind the scenes. From reality TV stars to famous movie actors, many celebrities have sued their business partners, seeking either a resolution to a dispute or financial compensation.

Johnny Depp

Following an article written by his ex-wife about surviving abuse, Johnny Depp sued her for defamation. The actors first met and later married while working on the film ‘The Rum Diary,’ but their relationship ultimately led to a highly publicized legal fight in Virginia. Depp argued that the accusations harmed his career and cost him significant movie roles. The trial captivated audiences worldwide with televised testimony from both Depp and his ex-wife. Ultimately, the jury sided with Depp, awarding him millions in damages, but also found him responsible for a single instance of defamation made by his attorney.

Amber Heard

After Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for defamation, she responded with her own lawsuit. She claimed his lawyers intentionally damaged her reputation by discrediting her accusations of abuse during their marriage. Heard and Depp first met and began a relationship while filming the movie ‘The Rum Diary’. Throughout the trial, she presented evidence to back up her account of what happened. Ultimately, the court ruled partially in favor of both Depp and Heard, requiring them each to pay damages to the other.

James Woods

In the late 1980s, James Woods sued his co-star Sean Young, seeking a large sum of money. Woods claimed Young had repeatedly harassed him after they worked together on the film ‘The Boost,’ sending him disturbing gifts, including a decapitated doll, and attempting to psychologically intimidate him. Young denied these accusations, arguing the dispute arose from a personal conflict during filming. The case was ultimately settled privately, with Young admitting no wrongdoing.

Sean Young

Actress Sean Young was involved in a public legal dispute with her former co-star, James Woods, who accused her of harassment and causing emotional distress. Their issues began during filming of the movie ‘The Boost’ and worsened afterward. Young believed the lawsuit was an effort to harm her career and personal life. The legal battle negatively impacted her work for years after it was settled, and she has since discussed the challenges of dealing with the legal system as a Hollywood actress.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt sued Angelina Jolie over the sale of her portion of their jointly owned winery. The couple, who met while filming ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ and were together for over ten years, have been involved in several legal disputes since their split. Pitt accused Jolie of secretly selling her share to an outside investor, violating their prior agreement about how the French property would be managed. This disagreement over the winery and its profits has been ongoing for years.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie has filed a lawsuit against Brad Pitt as part of their continuing disagreements over business dealings and their past relationship. Jolie claims Pitt was physically and verbally abusive towards her on a private plane in 2016. These allegations came to light during a legal fight over a winery they jointly owned. Jolie stated she wanted to sell her part of the winery to become financially independent and escape the ongoing conflict. Court filings revealed intimate details about the couple’s private life.

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum and his ex-wife, Jenna Dewan, are locked in a legal dispute over how to divide their assets. They first met and began a relationship while filming the movie ‘Step Up’ at the start of their careers. The main issue in the case centers around the money earned from the ‘Magic Mike’ films, which Tatum starred in and helped create. Dewan argues that because the idea for ‘Magic Mike’ came about during their marriage, she deserves a share of the profits. The legal process has highlighted how complicated it can be to manage a successful entertainment brand after a divorce.

Jenna Dewan

Jenna Dewan is taking legal action to receive a portion of the earnings from the popular ‘Magic Mike’ franchise. She claims the idea for the movies and shows originated while she was married to Channing Tatum, her former co-star. The couple, who met on the set of ‘Step Up,’ were a prominent Hollywood pair for years. Dewan is requesting the court assess the value of the related business assets to help them reach a final divorce settlement. Her lawyers argue that work done during their marriage was key to the franchise’s worldwide success.

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold, who both starred in the popular sitcom ‘Roseanne’ and were married for a time, had a very public and contentious legal dispute after their divorce. They fought in court over contracts and possessions, with Barr claiming Arnold had used their relationship to benefit his career while harming hers. Their messy split was heavily covered by the tabloids throughout the early 1990s.

Tom Arnold

I remember when Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr went through a really messy divorce after working together on ‘Roseanne.’ He was a big part of the show, both writing and acting, when it was hugely popular. It quickly turned into a legal battle, with both of them suing each other over money and everything they’d built as a couple. There was a lot of bad blood and they publicly accused each other of things. Even though they both eventually moved on to other projects, that whole court fight really stuck with people and seemed to define a part of their careers.

Joanna Krupa

Joanna Krupa sued her ‘Real Housewives of Miami’ co-star, Brandi Glanville, claiming Glanville damaged her reputation and caused emotional distress. The lawsuit stemmed from Glanville making offensive comments about Krupa’s personal hygiene on television. The two frequently argued on the reality show. Krupa sought financial compensation for the harm to her reputation and modeling career. After years of legal battles and public discussion, the case was ultimately settled.

Brandi Glanville

Brandi Glanville, known for her candid personality on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,’ faced a lawsuit from her former co-star, Joanna Krupa. The suit stemmed from critical comments Glanville made during an appearance on ‘Watch What Happens Live.’ Glanville argued that her behavior was simply part of playing a larger-than-life character for reality TV. The case involved legal questioning and proof related to the statements she made. Ultimately, Glanville settled the lawsuit and publicly apologized.

NeNe Leakes

NeNe Leakes sued her former ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ co-star, Kim Zolciak Biermann, and several production companies, claiming she faced a hostile and discriminatory work environment. Leakes alleged that during her time on the show, she experienced racial discrimination, including insensitive comments from co-stars that producers and network leaders didn’t address. She hoped to bring attention to what she saw as widespread problems within reality TV production. Although the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed, it raised important discussions about diversity in the entertainment industry.

Kim Zolciak

NeNe Leakes has sued Kim Zolciak Biermann, her former co-star from ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ and related shows. Their relationship was famously complicated over many seasons. Zolciak Biermann has denied accusations of racism, claiming her words were misunderstood. The lawsuit brought to light the dramatic conflicts that are common in reality television. Throughout the legal battle, she has insisted she did nothing wrong.

Shia LaBeouf

FKA Twigs, who both starred in and dated Shia LaBeouf, filed a lawsuit against him alleging sexual battery and assault. They first met while working on the film ‘Honey Boy,’ a movie based on LaBeouf’s life story. The lawsuit detailed a pattern of abusive behavior during their relationship, including claims of physical violence and emotional manipulation that caused significant trauma. LaBeouf responded by admitting he had struggled with substance abuse and issues with his behavior in the past.

FKA Twigs

FKA Twigs courageously sued her former co-star, Shia LaBeouf, to shed light on domestic abuse. After meeting on the set of ‘Honey Boy’ and beginning a relationship, she experienced a deeply harmful situation. In her lawsuit, she described specific instances of violence and controlling behavior during their time together. She aimed to protect other women and find justice for the pain she endured. The case has become a key part of the larger discussion about holding people accountable within the film industry.

James Franco

James Franco was sued by former students and colleagues who claimed he sexually exploited them. These individuals had worked with him on films like ‘The Long Home’ and were part of his now-closed acting school. They stated that Franco misused his position of power to coerce them into uncomfortable scenarios on set. While Franco initially denied any wrongdoing, he ultimately agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement. This legal dispute caused a considerable break in his career as an actor and director.

Jon Gosselin

After becoming famous on the reality show ‘Jon and Kate Plus 8’ – which followed their large family – Jon and Kate Gosselin faced many legal disputes following their separation. These court battles centered around the custody of their children and whether or not those children could be filmed for television. Jon specifically sought to prevent the kids from appearing on camera without his permission, and the disagreements were often publicized with both Jon and Kate making accusations publicly.

Kate Gosselin

Kate Gosselin sued her ex-husband, Jon Gosselin, claiming he illegally accessed her computer and stole private information. She believed he planned to use this data for a tell-all book about their marriage, which ended in a highly publicized divorce after they co-starred on a reality show for many years. Kate also took Jon to court over child support and how to divide the money they earned from their television work. Ultimately, she was trying to protect her career and prevent her children from being overly exposed by the media.

Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel and her ex-husband, Jason Hoppy, were involved in a lengthy and complicated legal fight. Their relationship played out on television, beginning with their meeting and marriage on the show ‘Bethenny Getting Married,’ a spin-off of her original series. After their divorce, the conflict escalated with accusations of stalking and harassment, leading Frankel to seek a restraining order and custody of their daughter in court. The case demonstrated the challenges of finding love and creating a public image through reality TV.

Audrina Patridge

Audrina Patridge filed for divorce and a restraining order against her husband, Corey Bohan, following a pattern of domestic issues. The couple was known for appearing together on the reality TV show ‘The Hills.’ Patridge sought full custody of their daughter and legal protection due to what she described as abusive and threatening behavior during their marriage. The court approved her requests to safeguard her family while they navigate the divorce process.

Tamra Judge

Okay, so this is pretty wild. Tamra Judge from ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ got hit with a massive, million-dollar defamation lawsuit. Apparently, a guy whose wife was also on the show claimed she’d said things about his business that weren’t true and that it cost him money. Tamra fought back, saying she was either telling the truth or just sharing her opinion, which she’s allowed to do publicly. It ended up being a really expensive fight for her, but thankfully, the court sided with her – the guy couldn’t prove his claims and the whole thing was dismissed. It was a stressful situation, but she won!

Kenya Moore

Kenya Moore and Porsha Williams, both stars of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ had a physical fight during a reunion show. Moore filed a police report and pursued legal action against Williams, seeking to hold her responsible. The two had often argued on the show previously. This decision sparked varied responses from the rest of the cast, ultimately leading to a warrant being issued and a formal legal case.

Porsha Williams

Porsha Williams faced legal trouble after getting into a physical altercation with her co-star, Kenya Moore, on TV. Moore filed a complaint, leading to a misdemeanor battery charge for Williams. She had to turn herself in and go to court. Williams’ lawyers claimed Moore had intentionally provoked her with both props and harsh words during filming. This incident is still remembered as one of the most notable legal issues to come from a reality show.

Kathryn Edwards

Kathryn Edwards had a legal battle with her ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ co-star, Faye Resnick, over the contents of Resnick’s book. The disagreement became a major focus during Edwards’ season on the show. Edwards was upset with how she was depicted in the book, which had been published before she joined the cast, and explored legal options to defend her reputation and prevent further negative portrayals. This led to several dramatic arguments between the two women that were filmed for the show.

Faye Resnick

In the nineties, Faye Resnick wrote a book that led to legal issues and public criticism from Kathryn Edwards. Years later, the two women appeared together on a reality show, bringing their complicated history into the spotlight. Resnick insisted her book truthfully reflected her life and experiences. The ongoing legal conflict added drama to the show as they interacted within the same social circles. Resnick stated she never meant to cause harm and defended her right to publish her story.

Taylor Armstrong

Taylor Armstrong faced legal challenges following the death of her husband and reality TV co-star. Business partners sued them, alleging they had been financially defrauded. While grieving, Armstrong dealt with these lawsuits, and her lawyers worked to resolve the claims and secure financial stability for her daughter. This legal battle became a prominent part of her storyline as she tried to move forward with her life.

Paul Nassif

After Paul Nassif and Adrienne Maloof separated and stopped appearing on reality TV together, they became involved in several legal battles. Nassif, a well-known plastic surgeon and popular TV personality, faced tough challenges in court as they fought over custody of their three sons and addressed accusations made during their divorce. The intense media attention made the legal process even more complicated. Once the court issues were settled, Nassif went on to host his own successful television show.

Kelsey Grammer

Kelsey Grammer went through a difficult and costly divorce with his ex-wife, Camille Grammer, who also appeared with him on television. The actor had to share details about his finances and spend a lot of time in court settling their property disputes. After the divorce, Grammer remarried and moved on. Their case is well-known as one of the most expensive divorces ever involving Hollywood stars.

Linda Hogan

After decades of marriage, Linda Hogan filed for divorce from her husband, Hulk Hogan, and sought a substantial share of their shared assets. The couple was known for their reality TV show, ‘Hogan Knows Best,’ which documented their family life. During the divorce proceedings, Linda claimed Hulk had been unfaithful and concealed financial information. She also sued him for defamation over statements made in his autobiography. Ultimately, the court granted her a large portion of their combined wealth as part of the divorce settlement.

Hulk Hogan

During a difficult divorce from his wife, Linda Hogan, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan experienced significant financial setbacks. The legal battle cost him a large part of his wealth, and he also dealt with additional lawsuits that further complicated his finances. To safeguard his reputation and brand, Hogan later initiated his own legal claims. This ongoing legal drama became a prominent part of his reality TV shows.

Denise Richards

Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, who starred together in ‘Good Advice’ and ‘Spin City’ during their relationship, ended up in court over money. Richards claimed Sheen hadn’t been providing enough financial support for their daughters and had behaved badly towards her. She went to court to make sure their children were financially secure. The legal battles were often complicated by Sheen’s public behavior and ongoing legal issues.

Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards were involved in legal disputes for over ten years concerning their family and finances. Before their highly publicized personal issues, they had a professional relationship in the entertainment industry. Throughout the legal battles, Sheen frequently used social media to share his feelings and respond to the claims made against him. While his lawyers worked to defend him, he also dealt with other controversies that threatened his career.

Melanie Griffith

After almost twenty years together, Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas divorced, stating they had differences that couldn’t be resolved. They first met and began a relationship while filming the movie ‘Two Much.’ The divorce involved dividing their homes and careers, and Griffith asked for primary custody of their daughter. Ultimately, they reached a friendly agreement.

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith went through a public and complex legal separation after a long relationship that began on the set of the film ‘Two Much’. The separation involved dividing their income and properties, which were located in several countries. Banderas kept the details of the legal proceedings private to shield his family from unwanted media attention. Ultimately, the court’s decision allowed both actors to move forward with their lives and careers independently.

Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling and her husband, Dean McDermott, publicly dealt with financial and marital problems, which were featured on their reality show, ‘True Tori.’ Spelling faced lawsuits from banks and credit card companies due to hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid debts. Throughout the show’s run, she also handled legal issues concerning child support and disagreements within their marriage. These court battles became a prominent part of her public life as she raised a large family and her career faced challenges.

Dean McDermott

While filming reality TV with Tori Spelling, Dean McDermott faced several legal issues. He risked jail time due to overdue child support payments to his ex-wife, and also dealt with lawsuits from lenders regarding debts he shared with his wife. These legal battles were sometimes mentioned on shows like ‘Chopped Canada,’ and caused considerable stress on his family and relationship with Tori.

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin had a very public and difficult divorce, marked by eight years of legal battles over their daughter. They first met and worked together on the film ‘The Marrying Man,’ and later co-starred in a remake of ‘The Getaway.’ The conflict centered around accusations that Basinger didn’t follow court orders regarding visitation, leading to additional legal consequences. Their intense courtroom fights became a well-known example of the challenges faced by celebrity parents.

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger had a long and difficult legal battle over visitation rights after their divorce. Baldwin detailed his frustrating experiences with family court in a book he wrote, claiming the system was unfair and damaged his relationship with his child. Though the case was eventually resolved, it significantly affected Baldwin’s reputation and career.

Share your thoughts on these high profile legal battles in the comments.

2026-02-25 08:22