Find out why two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn is suing “Empire” co-director Lee Daniels for $10 million

Lee Daniels, the openly gay co-creator of the TV blockbuster Empire, is being sued by actor Sean Penn for $10 million for allegedly implying that Penn has hit women.

Penn’s defamation lawsuit stems from comments Daniels made in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter in which he condemned the public persona of Empire star Terrence Howard.

Howard has been plagued with divorce drama and allegations of domestic abuse.

Terrence ‘ain’t done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he’s some f***-in demon,’ Daniels said. ‘That’s a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America.’

The lawsuit states: ‘Daniels falsely equates Penn with Howard, even though, while he has certainly had several brushes with the law, Penn (unlike Howard) has never been arrested, much less convicted, for domestic violence, as his ex-wives (including Madonna) would confirm and attest.’

It also explains why Penn decided to take legal action: ‘As a result of Penn’s status as a public figure, he has for years been the subject of scandalous, scurrilous, and baseless attacks. But Penn, like any citizen, has a right to defend himself and will no longer tolerate the reckless and malicious behavior of others, who seek to aggrandize themselves or their projects at his expense. Accordingly, and because of Daniels’ defamatory statements, Penn brings this action for monetary relief, and to deter Daniels and others from their defamatory actions.’

Penn was best actor Oscars for Milk and Mystic River, has been divorced from Madonna and Robin Wright and was most recently in a relationship with Charlize Theron.

The lawsuit was filed in state court in New York the day before the season two premiere of Empire.