Terry Crews Sexual Assault Lawsuit, How A 240-Pound NFL Star’s Fight Against A Hollywood Agent Helped Launch The #MeToo Movement

Terry Crews settled his sexual assault lawsuit against William Morris Endeavor agent Adam Venit in September 2018 after a nine-month legal battle that helped spark the #MeToo movement in Hollywood. Crews sued Venit and WME in December 2017 for assault, sexual battery, and emotional distress after Venit repeatedly grabbed his genitals at a February 2016 Hollywood party, squeezing so hard it caused immediate pain. 

The settlement led to Venit’s departure from WME and Crews’ powerful testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee about sexual assault survivors facing retaliation—but criminal charges were never filed because California’s statute of limitations had expired.

The Hollywood Party Assault That Changed Everything

On February 4, 2016, Terry Crews attended a party at Hutchinson’s Restaurant in West Hollywood hosted by Adam Sandler. Crews had never met Adam Venit before but looked forward to meeting the powerful WME agent who represented A-list clients including Sandler, Dustin Hoffman, Diane Keaton, and Sylvester Stallone.

According to the December 2017 lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Venit immediately behaved bizarrely. “Venit stared at Crews intently, like a rabid dog, sticking his tongue in and out of his mouth provocatively,” court documents stated. Instead of shaking hands, Venit “viciously grabbed Crews’ penis and testicles so hard that it caused Crews immediate pain.”

The former NFL linebacker—6’4″ and 240 pounds—pushed Venit away and yelled “Hey! What are you doing?!” multiple times. But Venit continued trying to grab Crews’ genitals. Crews screamed “Adam, come get your boy! He’s grabbing my nuts!” to alert Sandler, who was across the room.

Crews later explained why he didn’t physically retaliate: “240 lbs. Black Man stomps out Hollywood Honcho’ would be the headline the next day.” He referenced Trayvon Martin’s death, saying “I know what kind of country this is.”

WME’s Response And The Lawsuit

The next day, February 5, 2016, Crews texted his WME agent Brad Slater about the assault. Yet WME took no action for 18 months. After Crews went public in October 2017 following the Harvey Weinstein exposé, WME finally suspended Venit without pay for 30 days and demoted him from head of the motion picture department.

Venit returned to work in late November 2017. Crews fired WME as his agency on November 9, 2017, and filed a police report with LAPD on November 8. In December 2017, he sued both Venit and WME for nine claims including assault, sexual battery, gender violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The lawsuit alleged WME knew about Venit’s “long history of bizarre behavior” and predatory acts but ignored them because of his success representing high-profile clients. Crews met with WME chairman Ari Emanuel, who allegedly said Venit lacked the power to hurt Crews’ career despite his prestige position—then quickly changed the subject to announce Venit’s 30-day suspension.

Similar to other high-profile cases like the Shannon Sharpe lawsuit settled $50M sexual assault case resolved, celebrity assault lawsuits often settle confidentially to avoid prolonged litigation.

Criminal Case Rejected, Civil Settlement Reached

In March 2018, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office declined to prosecute Venit criminally, stating “the matter was rejected because it was beyond the statute of limitations.” California law at the time imposed a one-year limit for misdemeanor sexual battery cases, and Crews didn’t file his police report until November 2017—21 months after the February 2016 assault.

The civil lawsuit proceeded. In January 2018, Venit denied all allegations in court filings. His attorneys required Crews to undergo a seven-hour mental health examination including psychological testing before the case could continue.

On September 10, 2018, WME announced the settlement: “Terry Crews, Adam Venit and WME have settled the lawsuit Mr. Crews filed last year. It will be dismissed.” Settlement terms remain confidential. As part of the agreement, Venit left WME after nearly two decades with the agency.

Senate Testimony And Cultural Impact

In June 2018, before the settlement, Crews testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about sexual assault and the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights. A tearful Crews detailed how he faced career retaliation, including being asked to drop his lawsuit to star in “The Expendables 4.”

“If there is anything I can do, I hope you’ll tell me because I’d like to be helpful,” Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley told Crews. Ranking member Dianne Feinstein added support from across the aisle.

Crews was named one of Time magazine’s “Silence Breakers” as Person of the Year in 2017, joining the women and men who launched the #MeToo movement. He became one of the first prominent male Hollywood figures to speak publicly about sexual assault.

Like the Cassie lawsuit settlement amount $20 million details revealed, Crews’ case demonstrated how celebrity survivors navigate civil litigation when criminal prosecution isn’t possible.

What You Must Know

Venit’s Later Domestic Violence Allegations

In June 2022—four years after leaving WME—Venit was sued by his estranged wife Trina for domestic violence, sexual battery, assault, defamation and stalking. The 18-page federal lawsuit alleged Venit “physically, sexually, mentally, emotionally and verbally abused” Trina throughout their 20-year marriage. Trina Venit was represented by the same law firm that represented Crews in his 2017-2018 lawsuit.

Statute of Limitations Changes

California has since extended the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases. As of 2019, adult sexual assault survivors have 10 years to file civil lawsuits (previously 2 years) and 10 years to report felony sexual assault criminally (previously 10 years for most felonies). The Adult Survivors Act also opened temporary lookback windows for time-barred cases.

FAQs

Did Terry Crews win his lawsuit against Adam Venit?

The case settled out of court in September 2018 with confidential terms. Settlement amounts were never disclosed, but Venit left WME as part of the resolution and the lawsuit was dismissed. Settlements aren’t admissions of liability but typically indicate both parties preferred resolving the matter privately.

Why wasn’t Adam Venit criminally charged?

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s office declined prosecution in March 2018 because California’s statute of limitations had expired. The alleged assault occurred in February 2016, but Crews didn’t file a police report until November 2017—beyond the one-year limit for misdemeanor sexual battery at that time.

Is Terry Crews still acting after the lawsuit?

Yes. Crews continues acting and has appeared in numerous projects since 2018, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine (which ended in 2021), America’s Got Talent as host, and various films. He has become an advocate for sexual assault survivors and speaks publicly about toxic masculinity and accountability.

What happened to Adam Venit’s career?

Venit left WME in September 2018 as part of the settlement agreement after nearly 20 years with the agency. He is no longer publicly active in the entertainment industry as a talent agent. In 2022, his wife sued him for domestic violence and sexual battery.

Did WME face consequences beyond the settlement?

WME settled the lawsuit but faced significant public criticism for its initial handling of Crews’ complaint and for allowing Venit to return to work after a brief suspension. The agency has since implemented stricter policies regarding sexual harassment and assault allegations.

Can other victims still sue Adam Venit?

California’s extended statute of limitations and Adult Survivors Act lookback windows could potentially allow other victims to file claims if assaults occurred within applicable timeframes. However, no additional public lawsuits against Venit regarding sexual assault have been reported beyond his wife’s 2022 domestic violence lawsuit.

Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Terry Crews’ sexual assault lawsuit and is not legal advice for your specific situation.

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About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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