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Sideshow: Terrence Howard's lawyer charges ex-wife with extortion

Howard and Ghent in court Terrence Howard's attorney says the actor agreed to his 2012 divorce settlement with Michelle Ghent only because he was afraid his ex-wife would leak damning information about his sex life. Brian Kramer seeks to have a Los Angele

Howard and Ghent in court

Terrence Howard's attorney says the actor agreed to his 2012 divorce settlement with Michelle Ghent only because he was afraid his ex-wife would leak damning information about his sex life. Brian Kramer seeks to have a Los Angeles court set aside the settlement, claiming it was the product of "heavy-handed acts of extortion and blackmail" on Ghent's part. Speaking during his opening arguments Tuesday, Kramer promised to play the court an audio recording of Ghent making various threats.

He said Ghent used her leverage to force Howard to pay her $5,800 a month for three years, even though they were married for only a year.

On Tuesday, Howard's sister-in-law Yvonne Howard testified that Ghent claimed she would release a sex video showing Howard in a ménage à trois with two women. Howard, whose Fox hit Empire returns next month for its second season, is expected to testify in the case.

Ghent, who has denied the allegations, filed for divorce in 2011, accusing the Oscar nominee of domestic violence. She also claims Howard still owes her money under the settlement.

Colbert hearts Trump

How much does Stephen Colbert love Donald Trump? So much that he prays every night that Trump stays healthy and remains a viable candidate for the GOP presidential nomination.

Colbert, who won't take over CBS's Late Show until Sept. 8, doesn't want to be too late to cash in on Trump's growing renown as a candidate.

"Every night before I go to bed, I light a candle and pray that he stays in the race," Colbert, 51, said Monday, "and I also pray that no one puts that candle anywhere near his hair."

Colbert, who played a character on The Colbert Report, said his new job will allow him to drop the buffoonish mask he maintained for nearly a decade.

"I'm looking forward to being sincerely interested in what they have to say without having to translate it through an idiot's mouth," he said.

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