Madonna is standing up for her ex-husband Sean Penn. The superstar singer denies that her ex ever beat her in a new declaration submitted via Penn’s amended lawsuit against Lee Daniels, who Penn is suing for defamation.
As previously reported, the Gunman star is suing Daniels for $10 million after the Empire creator alleged that Penn, 55, is abusive toward women while he was trying to defend Terrence Howard during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Howard, who has faced allegations of domestic abuse against his ex wives, previously admitted to having hit one of his exes.
In the document obtained by THR, Madonna, 57, refers to two instances which she says are frequently speculated about.
“I am aware of the allegations that have surfaced over the years accusing Sean of incidents of physical assault and abuse against me. Specifically, I am aware of the allegations concerning an alleged incident that occurred in June, 1987, whereby (according to tabloid reports), Sean allegedly struck me with a ‘baseball bat.’ I know the allegations in those and other reports to be completely outrageous, reckless, and false,” Madonna’s declaration reads.
“I am also aware of allegations concerning an incident that occurred in December, 1989, which purportedly resulted in Sean’s arrest for domestic assault and battery against me. I know those allegations to be false,” she continues. “While we certainly had more than one heated argument during our marriage, Sean has never struck me, ‘tied me up,’ or physically assaulted me, and any report to the contrary is completely outrageous, malicious, reckless, and false.”
Daniels has since cited the First Amendment in an attempt to get the lawsuit dismissed. However, in the amended complaint, Penn’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, argues that "Unfortunately for Daniels, his statements — which by direct reference to Howard's misconduct, falsely accuse Penn of committing serious, multiple crimes against women — are not protected by the First Amendment.”
Penn and Madonna were married from 1985 to 1989.
