Kevin Hart wants a judge to keep Montia Sabbag, the woman involved in his widely publicized sex tape scandal, off the witness stand in his ongoing lawsuit against former assistant Miesha Shakes.
In newly filed court documents obtained by TMZ, the comedian argues that Sabbag has no relevant connection to the dispute at the center of the case. His request comes days after Shakes identified Sabbag as a potential witness who could discuss the sex tape scandal and the subsequent legal battle surrounding it.
Shakes, who worked for Hart from 2017 to 2020, listed Sabbag as someone who may testify about the controversy. Hart is now asking the court to prevent her from being called unless Shakes can demonstrate that her testimony is relevant to the lawsuit.
The legal fight, however, is not directly about the sex tape. It centers on an interview Shakes gave to blogger Tasha K, during which she discussed Hart’s personal life.
Hart is suing his former assistant, alleging that she violated a nondisclosure agreement she signed when she left his company. He claims the interview damaged his reputation and is seeking unspecified damages.
Shakes disputes Hart’s position. According to the supplied court coverage, she argues that the NDA is unenforceable because Hart allegedly failed to meet other obligations under their agreement.
Now, the proposed witness list has become another point of contention.
Hart claims Shakes submitted her list without first consulting his legal team, which he argues was improper. He also alleges that naming Sabbag was an attempt to embarrass him and generate further controversy around the sex tape scandal.
Those assertions represent Hart’s position in the dispute, not established findings by the court.
The comedian maintains that the case should focus on the people directly involved in the alleged breach of contract and the interview: Hart himself, Shakes and Tasha K. He wants other proposed witnesses excluded unless Shakes can show that their testimony relates to the issues the court must decide.
Sabbag’s possible involvement adds a sensitive layer to an already high-profile celebrity dispute. Her connection to Hart’s past scandal does not, by itself, establish that she has relevant evidence concerning the NDA or the interview at the heart of the current lawsuit.
For now, Hart is asking the judge to draw a clear line between the underlying contract dispute and the separate controversy surrounding the sex tape. Whether Sabbag will be permitted to testify depends on the court’s consideration of the proposed evidence and the issues in the case.
The bottom line: Hart wants the lawsuit to remain focused on the alleged NDA violation, rather than reopening a separate chapter of his personal life.
