The drama behind the scenes of BET+’s All the Queen’s Men is spilling into the legal arena. Show creator Christian Keyes has just been hit with a cease-and-desist letter from one of the series’ stars, claiming defamation and demanding a public apology — or face litigation.
TMZ obtained the documents, which reveal the intense clash between Keyes and Skyh Alvester Black, who portrays Addiction Anthony on the hit drama. Black enlisted high-powered attorney Marty Singer to send Keyes what’s described as a “first and last chance to avoid litigation.”
The dispute traces back to a Facebook post Keyes made last month, accusing Black of allegedly being “high as a kite” on set. Black was not happy with the public call-out and claims the statements are false and damaging to his reputation.
Keyes Calls Out Actor on Set Behavior
In the post, Keyes outlined his plans to expand the All the Queen’s Men universe through spinoffs and prequels on another network. While BET+ canceled the original show, Keyes explicitly named Black as one of the actors who will not return for any of the future projects.
“You don’t get to show up inebriated and brag about it, so yeah … Alvester Black won’t be back,” Keyes said in the video. “Skyh won’t be back. He will be written out for that and other reasons.”
Black’s attorney fired back in the legal letter, calling Keyes’ remarks “textbook defamation” and asserting that Keyes only made the statements because Black had previously called out the showrunner for bullying cast members on set.
Bullying Allegations Surface
According to Black, Keyes’ bullying included yelling at him in front of 300 cast and crew members, claiming he was high. Keyes admitted in the video to being “abrasive” while addressing an unnamed actor for going off-script, insisting:
“You’re not supposed to be adlibbing, and this is MY show, this isn’t the standup comedy hour.”
The legal letter demands that Keyes:
- Remove all offending social media posts
- Post an immediate retraction and public apology
- Permanently cease any further false and defamatory statements about Black
While the original Facebook post has been removed, a YouTube video showing Keyes’ tirade remains online. Black’s legal team insists their demands apply to Keyes and anyone acting in concert with him.
No Public Apology Yet
As of now, Christian Keyes has not issued a public apology. With tensions this high, even all the queen’s horses and all the queen’s men might not be enough to mend the fractured relationship behind the scenes.
Stay tuned as this story unfolds — the All the Queen’s Men feud is just getting started.
Key Takeaways:
- Christian Keyes publicly called out Skyh Alvester Black for alleged on-set behavior.
- Black’s attorney claims defamation and demands a retraction and apology.
- Allegations of bullying and false accusations have surfaced.
- Legal action could escalate if Keyes fails to comply.
- Behind-the-scenes drama threatens any future collaboration on spinoffs.
