Actress Amber Dixon Brenner has filed a lawsuit in California accusing television writer, producer and director Salim Akil of breach of contract as well as domestic violence.
Brenner is suing Akil over a script she said she wrote about their alleged relationship that Akil picked from and never properly credited her for.
According to reports, Brenner alleges she and Akil were in a lengthy relationship that began 10 years ago and was “physically and sexually abusive.” Akil has been married to his writer, director wife Mara Brock since 1999.
In the lawsuit filed Nov. 20, Brenner said Akil, 54, often physically assaulted her. During a birthday party, Brenner claims the Love Is__ co-creator asked her to follow him to the bathroom where he slapped her, which caused her to stumble and then forced her to perform oral sex. Brenner also alleges Akil urinated in her mouth.
Another time, Brenner says she asked Akil to stop during an especially painful sexual encounter “he refused to stop, saying: ‘uhnt uhnt [no, no]. Take it.’ ” Her complaint also alleges he photographed a sexual encounter between the two without her consent.
The lawsuit also details why Brenner didn’t leave the relationship because “she believed that she loved Akil. She also looked up to him as a prominent motion picture television director in some of the same entertainment circles where Plaintiff socialized. Akil likewise would at times dangle potential acting roles and professional collaborations before Plaintiff.”
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