The brothers of Chadwick Boseman are taking the late US actor’s widow to court over her handling of his multimillion-dollar estate.
Derrick Boseman and Kevin Boseman have petitioned a Los Angeles court to compel the Black Panther star’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, to disburse funds to family members and to remove her as controller of his estate.
They believe she botched the money’s distribution and “cannot be trusted with the continued administration of the estate.”
Boseman died at 43 in 2020, four years after being diagnosed with colon cancer. He is most known for his portrayal as T’Challa, King of Wakanda, in the Oscar-winning 2018 Marvel film Black Panther.
According to court documents obtained by BBC News, Boseman owned assets worth $3.8 million (£2.9 million) but died without a will.
A judge ruled that 50% should go to Boseman’s widow, who was also designated estate administrator, and 25% to each of his parents.
The actor’s brothers petitioned the court last week on behalf of their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman.
According to the appeal, Ledward “has still not distributed the estate” and “continues to exert unilateral control” over it.
Ledward is also accused of establishing a “lack of transparency” surrounding his assets, as well as keeping the actor’s parents “in the dark” about the deals and operations of a firm established to handle his image and rights.
According to the brothers, Ledward’s “misconduct is causing ongoing harm” to Boseman’s elderly parents and depriving them “of financial assets at a vulnerable age when such support is most critical.”
“Moreover, the needless continuation of these proceedings denies Decedent’s [Boseman’s] family closure and causes emotional distress,” the court filing said.
“Imagine flipping through the channels and stumbling on a film starring your deceased son or brother, knowing that someone you do not know or trust is profiting from his image without your input or consent.”
Ledward, an R&B artist known as Sahn, began dating Boseman in 2015, and they married just six days before the actor died in August 2020.
The BBC has contacted her lawyer for comment.
In a statement to US media, the late actor’s brothers said, “On behalf of our parents, we are committed to ensuring that transparency, accountability, and respect guide the resolution of these matters.
