In a legal battle that unfolded on Tuesday, actor Kevin Hart filed a lawsuit against his former personal assistant, Miesha Shakes, and YouTuber Tasha K (Latasha Kebe), accusing them of attempting to extort $250,000 from him in exchange for not publishing a defamatory interview. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

According to the complaint, Tasha K, who boasts over a million subscribers on her YouTube channel and often covers celebrity gossip, allegedly orchestrated a scheme to blackmail Hart by threatening to publicize an interview with Shakes. During the conversation, Shakes reportedly made false statements, including claims that Hart was facing criminal charges related to recording a sexual encounter.

The lawsuit reveals that an unidentified individual affiliated with Tasha K contacted Hart last November, demanding the substantial payout under the threat of tarnishing his reputation. In response, Hart refused to comply, notified law enforcement, and issued a cease-and-desist letter to Tasha K. Hart's legal team explicitly warned her that any ensuing financial damages resulting from her alleged misconduct would not be dischargeable in bankruptcy.

The suit further details how Tasha K had previously faced legal consequences. In March, a federal appeals court upheld a $4 million defamation judgment against her for making false claims about rapper Cardi B involving prostitution, herpes, and drug use.

The lawsuit also contends that Shakes violated confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements by divulging confidential business and personal information related to Hart. Shakes, who served as Hart's personal assistant at Hartbeat Productions from 2017 to 2020, is said to have exploited "loopholes" in these agreements, attempting to evade accountability for breaching their terms. The complaint points out that Shakes received a total payment of $90,000 over three years as part of the NDA.

In the defamatory interview, published on Tasha K's subscription-based website in December, Shakes claimed that Hart was a serial cheater and gambling addict who paid someone millions of dollars to take DUI charges on his behalf. The lawsuit singles out statements about Hart's alleged involvement in legal disputes, including the recording of a sexual encounter and the supposed criminal charges related to it.

To succeed in his defamation claims, Hart will need to demonstrate that Shakes acted with malice or recklessness, meeting the high standard required for public figures. This entails showing that Shakes intended to harm Hart, knowing the statements were false or exhibiting reckless disregard for the truth. Notably, other defamation suits, such as those filed by Donald Trump, Sarah Palin, and a person depicted in "The Wolf of Wall Street," have failed to meet this standard.

While Tasha K is not accused of defamation, she faces claims of extortion, intentional interference with contractual relations, and invasion of privacy. In response to the lawsuit, a representative for the YouTuber issued a brief statement imploring the public to watch the full interview.

This legal dispute comes after Hart publicly apologized in 2017 for engaging in infidelity with a woman who had also attempted to extort him. The outcome of this case will shed light on the validity of Hart's accusations against Shakes and Tasha K and determine the potential consequences for their alleged actions.