Much of Terrence Howard's acting is rooted in brooding intensity, a quality he certainly brought to his role as music mogul Lucious Lyon on "Empire." Howard's ferocity on the screen, however, underlines a violent streak. In 2009, The Smoking Gun discovered that in 2001, Howard was arrested for assault on Lori McCommas, his estranged wife. After a fight on the phone, which ended when McCommas hung up and dialed 911 after Howard threatened to "come over and hurt" her, Howard broke down the front door of the house, grabbed McCommas, and punched her twice. While charged with simple assault and terroristic threats, Howard eventually pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. This was far from a lone incident.
In 2000, Howard allegedly assaulted a flight attendant who asked him to return to his seat because the seat belt sign was on. In 2005, according to Philadelphia magazine, the "Iron Man" star attacked a couple at a diner when they were seated before him. In 2012, he allegedly "choked," punched and threw his ex-girlfriend May Seng to the ground. In January 2011, his second wife, Michelle Ghent, filed for divorce after suffering a year of alleged spousal abuse, according to the Daily Beast, including a punch to the face, nearly being thrown off a balcony, and Howard threatening her with a butcher knife.
Incredibly, and in spite of a raft of apparent evidence to the contrary, Howard once declared to Entertainment Tonight, "I really can't harm a fly. It's completely against my spirit."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7XCpKCsr5mbwW%2BvzqZmcG9nboV0e8Keo56aop7BqrHSZq6hp12cvLV5wpqsoKCkYrmqwsinnmacn6qvrbGMpaCvnaNk