PopUps: Lee Daniels Faces 2 Curious Lawsuits Over 'Empire'
Let's see how this cookie crumbles!
A woman is suing the creators of the Fox breakout drama "Empire," claiming show runner Lee Daniels stole her life story, TMZ reports.
In her lawsuit, Sophia Eggleston said she embodies the character Cookie Lyon, played by Emmy-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, - a beautiful, fierce, brash, no-nonsense woman who will do what it takes to get what's hers. But Eggleston says Daniels lifted her life story - even the fact that she has a gay family member and loves to wear mink. Eggleston said she even served jail time for putting a hit on someone, noting Cookie did the same in the show.
Eggleston said she gave a copy of her autobiography to a screenwriter in 2011 and said months later, the screenwriter called her back to say she was pitching the book to Daniels.
According to Wikipedia, Daniels said Cookie was based on the different women in his life, including his sister. He said he was also inspired by the "Dynasty" character Alexis Colby, played by Joan Collins.
Eggleston is suing for $300 million and is representing herself, according to TMZ.
In other "'Empire' is being sued" news, TMZ reports in a separate article Ron Newt, who is reportedly a friend of the Jackson family, is suing "Empire" star Terrance Howard, Daniels and others, and, like Eggleston, is claiming his life as a "gangster, pimp and drug dealer" has been lifted for the show.
Newt, who calls himself a "known ghetto player," claims he met Howard before "Empire" to discuss his documentary "Bigger Than Big." Newt said Howard connected to it and wanted to play him in the film.
After watching the ratings-dominating "Empire," Newt said the similarities to his film and the TV show are suspicious: 4 drug dealers are both killed in "Empire" and "Bigger Than Big," Howard's character Lucious Lyon shot his long-time friend and a similar incident happens in Newt's film. Read all the "similarities" over at TMZ by clicking here.
Newt said he wants a billion dollars from "Empire."