A man who describes himself as “Hollywood royalty” and an “It boy” has filed a lawsuit against former MTV executive Brian Graden, claiming Graden used the prospect of a reality TV show in return for sex.
Rovier Carrington, who says he’s the great-grandson of Three Stooges star Moe Howard, filed the $100 million suit in New York Supreme Court. Carrington claims Graden stole his idea for a gay dating show and destroyed any possibility of a career in the entertainment industry. He also alleges the two had a two-year sexual relationship and that Graden kept Carrington around by promising to get Graden’s ideas produced.
In addition, Carrington claims he was raped by Brad Grey, former CEO and chairman of Paramount Pictures. Grey died in May of 2017.
The suit goes into detail about their alleged interactions, starting with Grey coming onto Carrington in a parked car after having dinner together. Carrington says Grey “began kissing Carrington all over his face, neck and mouth,” and became violent after the advance was rebuffed.
“The abruptness of Grey’s personality from dinner until that moment completely took [Carrington] off-guard and he did not know how to react,” states the complaint, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Grey indicated to Carrington, that if he did not have sex with him, he would destroy any chance [he] had of building a career in the entertainment industry.”
The complaint alleges Grey blacklisted Carrington from doing any business with Viacom after Carrington would not sign a non-disclosure agreement, and that Carrington only began having sex with Graden, whom he met on a gay dating app, in order to secure work at Viacom again.
“Graden indicated to Carrington that if he wished to move forward with his reality show, and come off Viacom’s banned list, that he would be required to have sex with Graden, Carrington agreed, as having sex with Graden was now his only option if he wanted to work in the entertainment industry,” the lawsuit states.
The suit alleges that Carrington pitched multiple reality shows centered around his own life, including one titled The Life of a Trendsetter. The idea behind that project promised to follow “good looking kids from wealthy families, living together in a home, spending their parents’ money.”
Carrington also claims he pitched a gay reality dating show and that his idea was stolen by Graden and turned into Finding Prince Charming, which ran on Logo in 2016 and was the source of many a punchline.
Graden reportedly stopped working at MTV in 2009, five years before the alleged abuse took place.
The suit asks for $100 million in damages from Viacom and lists Grey’s estate as a defendant.
In response, Viacom said: “We take allegations of this sort seriously, and are reviewing the complaint.”
Heywood Jablowme
And he’s hired the legendary Hollywood law firm of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe.
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
ChrisK
You sick insensitive bastard. Why I otta poke you in the eye.
Cylest Brooks
I enjoy this exchange a ton, so I’m sad to say that I had to delete Bob’s reply for violating the comment policy by including a racial slur.
Bob, I’m pretty confident you meant no harm, so there’s really no hard feeling here. Please advise that word is considered a slur and refrain from using it again on Queerty. Thanks for understanding.
Bob LaBlah
Not only did I mean NO harm but there IS an episode of The Three Stooges where THEY, The Three Stooges receive a letter from a law firm whose name is (name redacted) and the president of the firm is named I. Fleecem. When they go down to the firm thats the name on the door. I know you have no vicious intent in removing my comment due to overzealous readers who happen to not like me (and I COULDN”T care less). Hopefully you’ve noticed how little I comment nowadays and there is the reason. A few of these commenters very existence is to comment on Queerty and break their fingernails reporting what I say. You did what you were hired to do and I and this time around I am not criticizing YOU at all.
Cylest Brooks
Bob,
I redacted the part of your comment with the slur this time so I didn’t have to delete it, because honestly I don’t want to. I appreciate you understanding.
Bob LaBlah
Celeste, it is regrettable that my original comment was perceived as a racial slur but hey, I wasn’t the one who wrote that script seventy years ago for that Three Stooges short. It was what it was, funny, with NO intentional slap at no ethnic group in particular.
Now, if you have a minute take a look at the fifty second mark on this video. What I would like for you and others to notice is the woman’s name. I guess had I referenced her that too would have been a racial slur. Its a damn shame that ONE commenter can come on here and go on and on about liberals this and liberals that have nothing in particular to do with the article but yet this same person is the one who reports ANYTHING they deem aimed at their group. Just take a look and remember what I said about my not having anything to do with the script and its content. Take care and have a nice day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdjGXDoHpRI
Cylest Brooks
Bob, your criticisms are valid. I didn’t delete your second comment for exactly that reason – because while it technically violated the rule, it would be a shame to silence someone having simple fun when there are comments that get by here and shouldn’t.
Trust me, I’m working on it.
I also know that you didn’t write the script. That particular word has a long history of being misused by folks who don’t realize the pain and suffering behind it. And, with all respect due to their immense talent, they would be lambasted in today’s society for more than just that one word… their comedy was based in a lot of toxic stuff.
I appreciate the conversation, genuinely.
Bob LaBlah
Celeste, I’m sure you already know this but just in case you didnt Larry FEINSTEIN, Moe, Shemp and Jerry (Curly) HOROWITZ were all part of that group. They made us all laugh and are in the top five comedy groups of all time. Thats for letting me have my say. Take care.
Bob LaBlah
Forgive me but his birth name was Larry Feinburg. My bad.
ChrisK
Wow. The show’s this gay a-lister could’ve made. Following around some rich kids spending their parents money. I mean who wouldn’t be tuning in for that.
Bob LaBlah
ChrisK, are you saying you didnt watch a single episode of Growing up Jackson? Its already been done and after looking at his nose I seriously doubt his claim of being related to Moe Howard.
Tête Carrée
That show is currently running. It’s called Jaden and Willow Smith.
lauraspencer
Graden has been pissing where he eats for years. A revolving door at Viacom of guys he slept with that were then hired. From interns to the top exec. It is sexual harassment when a supervisor hits on you, but what is it called when you sleep with them first to get the job?
scotshot
The gay way to get a job and advance your career.
PinkoOfTheGange
Casting couch is the Hollywood term.
mhoffman953
“A man who describes himself as “Hollywood royalty” and an “It boy””
HAHAHA, what?
DCguy
I disagree with 99% of your postings.
THIS posting here, Total agreement.
OzJosh
Anyone who has to describe themselves as Hollywood Royalty isn’t.
Tête Carrée
I think the reporter missed the sh.. sound.
DCguy
They already did a show like that called “Rich Kids of Beverley Hills” didn’t they?
Secondly……um…..Hollywood Royalty? Really?
And third, it seems like his only job is showing up on red carpets in really over the top outfits.
Maybe his career would have gone better if he didn’t poke everybody in the eyes with his fingers and hit them in the face with a pie.
Vince
Yes it was on the E channel. I tried watching one episode and wanted to kill every one of them. A bunch of Smug self-important twats driving around their mommy and daddy’s Range Rovers and Mercedes acting all important.
DCguy
@Vince
Ugh, it sounds like it was worse that an old abortion of a show called “Filthy Rich Cattle Drive”. A bunch of spoiled “It” kids forced out on a cattle drive.
GoodGrief
To be fair, his claim of rape is against Brad Grey (who died in 2017). He says Grey raped him and Graden promised a show for sex.
Bromancer7
He must of one of Alexis’ kids.
bjohnmasters
GoodGrief, according to the article, ” Grey indicated to Carrington, that if he did not have sex with him, he would destroy any chance [he] had of building a career in the entertainment industry.” It would seem they didn’t have sex, since Mr. A-Lister here never worked in Hollywood again. So, the guy came on to him, was rebuffed…but nothing there says that any sex happened.
And there is this, “…and destroyed any possibility of a career in the entertainment industry.” So Viacom was the only production in Hollywood?
The kid then admits he went hunting on a hookup app to find someone to give him an “in.” I think he was used to using people and got in with people that were better at it then he was, and now he’s pissed.
Terrycloth
Ooh. What a drama Queen..probably loves it….sounds like he loves to stir the pot…
Tête Carrée
Oh why are my bosses always ugly?
nmharleyrider
Whatever happened, it sure doesn’t merit $100 million. Talk about over estimating the worth of your ass.
OzJosh
I presume that’s to cover lost earnings. LOL.
Jake321
Pretty much
gayjim1969
What?! You mean this high-paid executive didn’t scoop up this sad, delusional, Hollywood social climber wannabe’s incredibly creative and unique television show ideas as he naively provided sexual favors for the “possibility” of taken off the “blacklist?” And he waited until the guy was dead until he brought his lawsuit against the man’s estate?
Pfft! Next!!
Knight
Gee, this guy’s so A-list that none of us has ever heard of him! Maybe because he’s just a typical, random LA gayboy who doesn’t have any talent to speak of, yet believes he deserves to be famous. Well, maybe he’ll go Cunanan on someone and at least get an ET Extra segment?
Bob LaBlah
Knight, don’t rule out that possibility. I remember an incident involving Christopher Landon, the son of the late actor Michael Landon and a one hit wonder gay porn star back in the 1990’s. I wish they had included a picture of the guy who stalked him in the article because if I describe him once again I will get reported (hint).
http://articles.latimes.com/1992-01-30/local/me-1566_1_michael-landon
Oh, by the way, guess what little Christopher Landon grew up to be. Once again I am so happy I grew up poor AND happy.
https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-filmmaker-son-of-michael-landon-becomes-a-father-himself-see-the-baby-here/#gs.5NgqDPg
Knight
Bob believe me…I get it. I said it HALF in jest. I know of a few cases like that; gay boy who gets some attention in his youth latches on to someone he finds attractive, then goes psycho when it’s not reciprocated. And oddly, the few friends I know this has happen to are sons of famous people as well. I think it’s the whole lure of the spotlight/a life they WISH they had that turns them psycho.
calpoidog
This guy totally looks like a guy that was on Craigs List all the time (before the ads were taken down – sad) and who described himself the same way, talking about how well educated he was, raised in Beverly Hills, loves the finer things in life, wanted to find an “older companion” to travel the world, etc. Of course from all the misspellings and grammar errors in the ad you knew he was just a con.
WorldOfRobert
I love the idea of ‘The Life of a Trendsetter’ BUT … how about ‘The Life of a Bedwetter’ . I smell syndication (and pee).