Screenwriter and producer Dustin Lance Black took to Instagram on Thanksgiving. Alongside the image of himself, his husband Tom Daley and their two sons, he expressed gratitude and referenced his recent legal troubles in the UK.
“This Thanksgiving I couldn’t be more thankful for my precious little family and true friends. I’m thankful to be far away from the heartless violence, wilful ignorance, and prosecutorial maliciousness that came for me and our family in the U.K. over the last year.
“But I’m also thankful for those dark days for teaching me how deep love, marriage, and family can go, and for making it clear which friends and loved ones are true. I’m thankful that I can get back to healing now and creating again soon. I’m so thankful to be home.”
Why was Dustin Lance Black in court?
In August 2022, Black and Daley headed out for dinner and drinks in London’s West End. They ended up at the gay bar Freedom in Soho. Whilst there, they briefly shared a table with an event planner and BBC presenter, Teddy Edwardes.
Edwardes and Black got into an argument over someone else joining them at the table. Edwardes says Black grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm. As he went to leave, Edwardes then slapped him hard on the back of the head. Police were summoned and Edwardes was subsequently given a caution.
However, several weeks later, and following Edwardes’ claims, Black was charged with assault.
The case went to trial earlier this month in London. Daley accompanied his husband to Westminster Magistrates Court. Edwardes appeared and gave evidence behind a curtain: a procedure allowed to alleged victims who don’t wish to face the accused in court.
However, District Judge Louisa Cieciora said she found Edwardes to be inconsistent with her version of events. The judge also viewed video of the alleged incident and said it was not clear that Black had twisted Edwardes’ arm. She then took the unusual step of dismissing the assault case even before the defense had begun their arguments.
Afterward, a relieved Black told reporters outside the court, “This is a moment of exoneration – this case has flown in the face of everything I am and I am grateful to the judge for exonerating me.”
Despite the case being dismissed, Black says he subsequently experienced health issues from being struck on the back of the head. He also says he lost nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in revenue due to the case.
Followers show support
Among those to respond was trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who said, “Love you all!”
Others expressed the hope it hadn’t turned Black off the UK (his husband’s homeland).
“Please don’t blame the whole of the UK for the perceived errors of the few,” said one.
Black and Daley are currently based in Los Angeles after several years in London. Daley is training in the hope of competing in next year’s Olympics. Black is no doubt benefiting from being close to the center of the entertainment industry.
“So good to have you back. 🥰 We have missed you,” said another fan. “So sorry for everything you had to go through. Thank you for such a beautiful picture. Sending love and light to you and your beautiful family.”
If you’ve not caught it yet, do check out Rustin on Netflix. Black co-wrote the screenplay with Julian Breece. It focuses on the life of gay, civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, including his friendship with Martin Luther King and the seminal March on Washington in 1963.
Related:
Dustin Lance Black shows off husband Tom Daley’s booty
Tom Daley, Dustin Lance Black and Andrew Garfield together… *swoon*
Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black reveal they became dads again last month
They have spoken before of wanting siblings for their first son, Robbie.
wikidBSTN
Lots of average people go through this and a lot worse.
Steve9999
So what’s the point of your comment other than to be a bitchy queen?
Chrisk
She hits him in the back of the head and charges him with assault. Lol
It would be hard not to turn around and smack the shit out of her. Sounds like a loony C*nt.
Paris in Santiago
DLB has quite the explosive temper. I wish nothing but goodness for Tom & the children.
Steve9999
And you’ve experienced it firsthand? IF not, STFU.
dbmcvey
Really? How do you know this?
still_onthemark
I’ve never heard that. Any cite you can direct us to?
Mr.Gavin Elster
Well I guess I’m a bitchy queen, too? But with what’s going on in the world today, and the toxic, non-stop attacks on lgbt+ people, and their basic human rights, this legal tussle, (that could have been an outtake from “Dynasty?” Cue Alexis Carrington in a big, black, veiled hat on the witness stand) over what seems like a bunch of “over-served,” entitled people in some posh London boite seems uber trivial, and right out of the junior high school lunch room. I think the correct term for what Mr. Black was referencing is “prosecutorial malice,” not “maliciousness?” I think everyone involved needs TO GROW UP!
flim
Yes there are much bigger events but having every british tabloid write articles on this for a year where he is framed as the abusive husband of tom daley can’t have been much fun, he has had his life blown up for a really minor event in which he was the only one who recieved anykind of injury / it couldn’t even go to full trial in the end because the woman involved was found to have lied repeatedly
flim
I don’t think he made great decisions that night but he really didn’t deserve what the british press and courts have done this year considering that in the incident he was the one that got punched, they tried repeatedly this year to hold a full trial but couldn’t in the end because her evidence was too weak and she had lied repeatedly
Man About Town
The police were called? For this pissy little blip of a catfight? Sheesh!
Kangol2
Edwardes assaulted him, not allegedly, but actually did so. It’s good the police were called in this instance.
ccchanges
He’s so shady
Mister Dawson
Happy for them both. Sad that people are so quick to judge. Great role model too who shows an at-time hateful world that we are happily married with kids just like everyone else. I wish them nothing but happiness.
PS—-Tom, can you get Matty to join our team???
Fahd
A lesson from Kindergarten is keep your hands to yourself.
The police should have done a better job here. He should have settled (paid off the accuser) – would have been cheaper and less stressful in the long run. Also, why do the English hate Americans?
bachy
As an American who once had a British boyfriend and worked in London for a few years, I can tell you that the kind of British person the average American is exposed to is typically a lovely and talented actor in a movie or tv series.
Don’t be fooled. Having lived there, I quickly realized that the British people are actually a pack of high-strung, alcoholic, vengeful c_nts.
dbmcvey
The case was dismissed, why should he have paid off the accuser?
Openminded
I hope this incident doesn’t cause tension for the two if they had previously agreed to live in the UK. I wasn’t there, and it’s not on camera, so not going to pass any judgement on Black. What I do wonder is why doesn’t he press charges on the woman who was caught on camera assaulting him?
Tom sure looks like he loves being a daddy in that pic.
ccchanges
She took a caution for the assault. Black won’t want to testify so much about the injury.
Kangol2
I’m glad Dustin Lance Black was essentially exonerated and that that assaulter’s case fell apart, May he, Daley and their sons flourish in the LA sunshine. I also want to praise his co-written screenplay for Rustin, which really gives Colman Domingo an opportunity to exercise his acting chops!
still_onthemark
“He also says he lost nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in revenue due to the case.”
I’m totally on DLB’s side here, but how does a WRITER lose $750K in “revenue” from the annoyance of a court case?
dbmcvey
Settling with the person making the accusations.
Kangol2
Having to focus on the trial, dealing with lawyers, etc. eats up a lot of time. As a writer he needs time to focus and craft his projects.