Terrence Howard claims his former talent agency didn’t just affect his earnings from Empire—it may have prevented him from pursuing an entirely different business venture.
In a new court filing related to his lawsuit against Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the actor alleges that his agents failed to inform him about opportunities to launch his own signature fragrance, appear on the Home Shopping Network (HSN), and take part in paid promotional events connected to the hit Fox series.
According to TMZ, the latest claims significantly broaden Howard’s legal dispute with CAA, which initially focused on his Empire salary. Howard alleges that while his agents were negotiating with FOX for a salary of $750,000 per episode—and were told the network wouldn’t go beyond $325,000—they never disclosed that representatives behind an Empire-branded fragrance were also discussing business opportunities specifically for him. Those opportunities reportedly included a $20,000 fragrance launch appearance, future paid promotional events, an HSN appearance, and the possibility of creating his own men’s signature fragrance.
Howard says he didn’t find out about those business discussions until years later, claiming he negotiated his Empire contract without what he considers crucial information.
CAA has denied the allegations and is asking the court to throw out the lawsuit. The agency argues, among other things, that Howard filed his claims after the legal deadline set by the applicable statute of limitations.
The latest filing comes just months after Howard made a number of headline-making revelations during an appearance on the PBD Podcast. During the interview, he admitted that his temper often hurt his career, recalling a heated confrontation with producer Joel Silver while promoting The Brave One.
Howard said he warned Silver, “If you ever talk to me in that way again, I’m going to knock your teeth out your mouth.” Reflecting on the incident, he acknowledged that his “aggression” and difficulty managing his anger may have cost him several opportunities, including what he believes was his role in Iron Man 2.
The actor also opened up about deeply personal experiences, revealing that he was sexually abused as a child. He said the trauma shaped his view of relationships, affected him throughout adulthood, and made him especially protective of his own children.
“That really messed me up,” Howard said while discussing the lasting effects of the abuse.
