Tiffany Haddish has responded to the sexual abuse of a child lawsuit filed against her and fellow comedian Aries Spears.
“I am aware that many people have questions. I got it. I am totally there with you,” stated Haddish on Instagram.
“Unfortunately, due to an ongoing legal proceeding, I can say very little at this time. Despite the fact that this sketch was intended to be humorous, it was not at all amusing, and I greatly regret agreeing to perform in it.
“As soon as I can, I look forward to sharing a great deal more about this circumstance.”
The lawsuit, which was filed last week by an unidentified woman, contends that Haddish and Spears exploited Jane Doe, now 22, and her brother John Doe, now 14, in two comedic acts taped while they were children.
According to the lawsuit, in a clip titled “Through a pedophile’s eyes,” Spears’s character portrays a paedophile pining for a 7-year-old John Doe.
Haddish portrays the boy’s mother, who entrusts her child to the man.
According to “The Daily Beast,” “John (Doe) spends the majority of the video in his underpants as Spears’ character ogles him through two holes cut into a newspaper he pretends to read.”
“During the sketch, the camera suggestsively zooms in on the 7-year-buttocks old’s and groin as he plays. In one image, Spears pours baby oil onto the boy’s back and massages it into his shoulders, and in another, the child plays with a train in a manner reminiscent of phallic masturbation.
In a another scene, Spears smokes a cigarette while viewing a naked child in a bathtub and pouring water on his feet.
The film concludes with the text: “Be wary about who you leave your children with.”
“Funny or Die” removed the video in 2018 and informed “The Daily Beast” that it was “extremely revolting.”
Haddish’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, told “Vanity Fair” that the plaintiff’s mother, Trizah Morris, “has been attempting to raise these false accusations against Ms. Haddish for a number of years.”
Brettler stated, “Every attorney who first took on the case, and there were several, quit the matter after it became evident that the allegations were without merit and Ms. Haddish would not be intimidated.”
“Now, Morris is represented in this action by her adult daughter. Together, they will suffer the repercussions of pursuing this frivolous case.”