A made-for-TV romance between an actor and his YouTube star partner has devolved right into a authorized duel — over her claims that he was violent.
TV actor and hip-hop dancer Damon Gillespie and actress and YouTuber Grace Aki met whereas working in musical theater in 2014, bonding over their love of Broadway and present tunes.
The pair, whose engagement was reported by People Magazine, married in October 2018, however by final summer time, the music was over, in line with courtroom papers.
Now the 2 have traded lawsuits towards one another.
A month earlier than their July 2021 cut up was official, Aki went on her podcast, “Tell Me on a Sunday,” for an episode about home violence, describing her personal expertise with abuse and claiming Gillespie bodily abused and threatened her.
She referred to the actor not by title, however solely as her “husband,” calling him a “monster, abusive, narcissistic, boastful, entitled asshole,” authorized papers present.
Gillespie, 28, responded by submitting a September lawsuit towards his ex-wife in Manhattan Supreme Court docket, claiming her allegations had broken his fame and value him work. Gillespie, who starred within the 2018 NBC TV drama, “Rise,” has additionally appeared on “Inside Amy Schumer” and had a job in Netflix’s “Tiny Fairly Issues.”
Gillespie’s true nature didn’t turn into clear to Aki till 2019, she stated in her personal Manhattan Supreme Court docket lawsuit filed Friday.
It was not till 2019 that she “started to appreciate that the person she married had hid vicious character traits from her,” Aki stated in her personal Manhattan Supreme Court docket lawsuit towards him, filed Friday.
Gillespie verbally harassed, pushed and shoved her, and at one level, deserted her alone abroad, Aki alleged within the authorized papers.
She claims he left their dwelling early within the pandemic, returning with out rationalization months later. She locked herself in a bed room to get away from him, in line with the go well with, and put out a cry for assist, telling mates by way of Instagram that she feared for her security.
Gillespie allegedly noticed her messages and have become enraged, forcing her door open so onerous it made a gap within the wall, then pulling her off the bed by her leg and threatened her, Aki charged within the litigation.
Gillespie’s lawsuit is only a continuation of his abuse, Aki alleges.
There’s even a authorized time period for it: a Strategic Lawsuit In opposition to Public Participation, or SLAPP, in line with Aki’s lawyer, Valdi Licul. The intent of a so-called SLAPP lawsuit is to not rating a authorized victory, however relatively to intimidate and silence critics.
“His go well with is baseless,” Aki’s Valdi Licul stated. “He needs to carry a lawsuit to close her up.”
In his lawsuit, Gillespie denied ever being violent towards Aki, however stated the harm to his profession has been executed.
He stated his publicist and agent fired him on account of the unhealthy publicity he acquired from her podcast and that his profession has suffered. He stated he’s additionally been threatened by strangers on social media.
A lawyer for Gillespie declined remark.
“It’s my common observe that I don’t attempt my instances within the press,” Gillespie’s legal professional Richard Altman advised The Put up. “All the pieces I’ve to say is within the courtroom papers. Neither I nor my consumer could have any remark.”
Further reporting by Kathianne Boniello
