Kevin Hart Accuses Ex-Assistant of Trying to Embarrass Him With Witness From 2017 Scandal
Kevin Hart Accuses Ex-Assistant of Trying to Embarrass Him With Witness From 2017 Scandal
Mija MarkovicSun, October 11, 2026 at 1:51 PM UTC
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Image Credit: DFree / Shutterstock.Kevin Hart is asking a judge to keep Montia Sabbag, the woman involved in his 2017 sex tape controversy, from testifying in his lawsuit against ... Read More
Kevin Hart is asking a judge to keep Montia Sabbag, the woman involved in his 2017 sex tape controversy, from testifying in his lawsuit against former assistant Miesha Shakes.
He argues that Shakes named Sabbag to embarrass him and generate publicity, according to court documents reported by TMZ on October 10.
Shakes worked for Hart's company from August 2017 until October 2020, serving as his personal assistant for part of that time.
Hart brought the case with K. Hart Enterprises over information Shakes shared publicly about his private life. His former employee disputes his allegations and the enforceability of their confidentiality agreement.
Hart Challenges Both the Witness List and Its Relevance
Hart says Shakes submitted her witness list without first consulting his attorneys, which he argues was improper. He argues that only he, Shakes and YouTube personality Tasha K, whose legal name is Latasha Kebe, are relevant witnesses.
He wants anyone else excluded unless Shakes can establish why that person's testimony concerns the issues in the case. Shakes wants to question Sabbag about the recording and the investigation that followed, TMZ reported on October 7.
She contends Hart's own conduct had already damaged his reputation before she spoke publicly about him. No decision on Hart's request was reported in TMZ's October 10 account.
A 2023 Interview Led to the Lawsuit
Kebe published her interview with Shakes on a subscription platform on December 22, 2023. Hart sued days later, alleging that the conversation disclosed confidential information and included false statements about his personal conduct, the Los Angeles Times reported.
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Hart also alleged that someone affiliated with Kebe demanded $250,000 to withhold the interview. He said he refused, notified law enforcement and sent a cease-and-desist letter before publication, according to TheWrap.
In November 2024, Judge Holly J. Fujie dismissed the civil-extortion claim against Shakes while allowing Hart's defamation and privacy claims and the breach-of-contract claim to proceed, Courthouse News Service reported. The court also dismissed K. Hart Enterprises' separate defamation and privacy claims.
Shakes Says Hart Failed to Provide Promised Health Insurance
Shakes has acknowledged signing the agreement but argues Hart failed to provide the promised compensation, including three years of health insurance coverage. Hart said in a court declaration that he paid the amounts owed and that she accepted them.
In June 2026, Hart sought $50,000 under the agreement's damages provision, TMZ reported. “My livelihood depends in part on my reputation and the public’s perception of me,” Hart wrote in a declaration, citing his family-oriented projects and national endorsement agreements.
Hart and Kebe reached a settlement in 2025, with no terms publicly disclosed, according to MyNewsLA. The case against Shakes was briefly dismissed on June 26 that year after Fujie said a required declaration had not been filed. Hart's attorney subsequently showed that she had submitted it on April 3, and the judge reinstated the case on July 7.
Sabbag's Earlier Lawsuit Ended on Procedural Grounds
Sabbag sought $60 million in a 2019 lawsuit alleging that Hart was involved in secretly recording their encounter at a Las Vegas hotel. Hart denied participating in the recording or knowing who operated the camera.
After her federal case was dismissed, Sabbag filed in California state court in April 2020. Judge Shirley K. Watkins dismissed that case without prejudice on June 22, 2023, after neither Sabbag nor her lawyer attended a final status conference, MyNewsLA reported.
Watkins denied reinstatement in February 2024, citing grounds including the request's timing and a missing supporting declaration from Sabbag's attorney. The case ended without a trial determining responsibility for the recording.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
