Tiffany Haddish: ‘I deeply regret’ lewd comedy sketch cited in grooming allegations

Tiffany Haddish wrote in an Instagram post Monday that she deeply regretted acting in a lewd comedy sketch from 2013 that was cited in a recent child-molestation lawsuit filed against her, adding, “While this sketch was intended to be comedic, it wasn’t funny at all.�

A lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court by two anonymous plaintiffs alleges that Haddish and fellow comedian Aries Spears “groomed� and “molested� the plaintiffs, who were siblings aged 7 and 14, while filming comedy sketches. One of the videos was uploaded by a user to comedy site Funny or Die, which said it took down the “disgusting� clip in 2018 and that it wasn’t involved in its production.

Attorneys for Spears and Haddish both called the allegations a meritless “shakedown,� but Haddish’s most recent statement on Instagram struck a softer tone.

“I know people have a bunch of questions,� said Haddish’s Instagram post, which disabled comments. “I get it. I’m right there with you. Unfortunately, because there is an ongoing legal case, there’s very little that I can say right now. But, clearly, while this sketch was intended to be comedic, it wasn’t funny at all — and I deeply regret having agreed to act in it. I really look forward to being able to share a lot more about this situation as soon as I can.�

Per the 31-page suit, Jane Doe’s 2013 interaction with Spears and Haddish allegedly involved her copying the actions of a video in which a man and a woman ate a sandwich while “moaning and making sexual noises� in a way “that simulated the act of fellatio.� Haddish allegedly showed Jane Doe “how to give fellatio, including movements, noises, moaning, and groaning.�

A 2014 skit involving John Doe was supposed to be a reel intended to help him land a gig at Nickelodeon, the lawsuit says.

In the skit — titled “Through a Pedophile’s Eyes,� per the suit — Spears was seen “lusting over the 7-year-old� who was in his underwear while Haddish was not onscreen. “After filming, Mr. Doe called his mother crying, saying he did not want to film anymore,� the suit says.

The suit alleges gross negligence, sexual battery, sexual harassment and sexual abuse of a minor and seeks damages.

Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.