Terrence Howard Ordered To Stay Away From Ex-Wife Michelle Ghent After Claims Of Abuse

Terrence Howard has been ordered to stay away from ex-wife Michelle Ghent, who claims he assaulted her while on vacation in Costa Rica one month ago.

Howard and Ghent were married for just one year before Ghent filed for divorce in 2011 citing irreconcilable differences. The estranged couple was on a family vacation with Howard’s children in an attempt to reconcile. In her court filings, Ghent alleges that when she suggested to Howard that they should forget about reconciliation, Howard yelled at her and chased her into the bathroom. From there, the argument escalated, and allegedly ended in Howard punching Ghent and strangling her against a wall for a few seconds. Ghent then claims that she used pepper spray to stop the assault, but it got out of control, and soon everyone was affected by the spray, including Howard’s son-in-law who, Ghent claims, helped her fight Howard off. In the confusion, Ghent further accuses Howard of kicking her repeatedly and threatening her life.

“While I was on the ground, [Howard] kicked me repeatedly in the head and shoulders with strong blows. I knew I had to get away from [Howard] of he would try to kill me,” Ghent alleges according to the New York Daily News.

Along with her statements, Ghent provided the court with photographs of bruises she claims resulted from the altercation. She also showed up for court on Tuesday sporting a black eye.

In response, Howard also issued his own statement to the court, saying that it was Ghent who threatened his life and used her pepper spray “to attack my children and my son-in-law."

“Michelle suddenly went crazy for no apparent reason, said, ‘I told you not to f—k with me,’ and she took out a canister of mace/pepper spray and proceeded to spray me,” Howard reportedly stated.

Howard goes on to claim that Ghent was hospitalized after a suicide attempt a few months ago, and that she suffers from paranoia. He also tells the courts that he believes Ghent is purposefully timing her request for a restraining order to coincide with the release of his new film The Butler (August 16).

The newly issued restraining order mandates that Howard maintain a distance of 100 yards from Ghent and cannot contact her until they reassess in a hearing later this month. At that time, the judge will also hear Howard’s complaints against Ghent – his request for a restraining order was not granted.

Ghent previously obtained a restraining order against Howard in 2011, claiming that he abused her since they got married in 2010. At the time, Howard denied the allegations and fired back at Ghent by requesting a restraining order against her, claiming that she was a racist who threatened to have him killed. And in 2012, Howard accused Ghent of extortion.

Howard has been plagued by claims of domestic violence for years. In 2012, Howard accused his ex-girlfriend, May Seng Yang, of hitting him in the face after she was arrested for an incident at his home. And, back in 2001, Howard was arrested on suspicion of assault against his then-wife Lori McCommas. According to the police report, Howard admitted to hitting his wife. The two divorced in 2003, only to remarry in 2005 and divorce again in 2007.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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