Creator of Hit Show ‘Black-ish’ Hit with Lawsuit, Complainant Claims Show Is based On his Life

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The creator of the hit TV show Black-ish starring Anthony Anderson and Tracy Ellis Ross, Kenya Barris has found herself in some legal trouble as a man claims that the show is based on his life.

Bryan Barber claims that he and Kenya are old acquaintances who both worked as writers and both came up with the idea for a show that centered around a successful and affluent black man and his family living and working in a very ‘white-centric’ space.

According to TMZ, the lawsuit filed against Barris says that Barber and her  formed a partnership in 2006, and came up with a script focusing on the “black experience” … through the eyes of a “successful, creative and affluent black man” working in the mostly white entertainment industry.

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He also claims that “Black-ish” has tons of similarities to the OG show idea — such as the lead character driving a luxury car, wearing high-end clothes, and marrying a bi-racial doctor named “Rainbow.”

Barber is therefore suing Barris and the production company for at least $1 million and for writer and creator credits on the show.

BLACK-ISH - "THE Word" --- Jack performs the song "Gold Digger" at a school talent show and when he sings a lyric that includes THE word, it leads to his possible expulsion from school. Dre and Bow work together to get him reinstated, and along the way, examine the evolution of THE word through the generations and just who, if anyone, has the right to use it, on the season premiere of "black-ish," WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (9:31-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Kelsey McNeal) YARA SHAHIDI, MARSAI MARTIN
BLACK-ISH – “THE Word” — Jack performs the song “Gold Digger” at a school talent show and when he sings a lyric that includes THE word, it leads to his possible expulsion from school. Dre and Bow work together to get him reinstated, and along the way, examine the evolution of THE word through the generations and just who, if anyone, has the right to use it, on the season premiere of “black-ish,” WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (9:31-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Kelsey McNeal)
YARA SHAHIDI, MARSAI MARTIN

Kenya Barris and her representatives are yet to respond to the allegations. The new season of Black-ish will premiere on the 21st of September.

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