From ‘Blurred Lines’ to ‘Empire, Marvin Gaye’s Son Says Daniels Stole His Idea

Two individuals previously cried foul about Lee Daniels regarding the FOX hit drama series “Empire.” Well, there’s also a third person who plans to file a lawsuit against Daniels and his family aren’t strangers to the court room. 

Marvin Gaye III claims that Lee Danies stole his idea of a “black” and “hip” version of “Dynasty” (with a hint of “The Sopranos”). TMZ reports that Gaye shopped his treatment for a show called “Diamonds & Ballads aka Those Sons of Riches!” with the Writers Guild of America. This was in 2010 and at the time, Gaye claims he also pitched the idea to TV executives and said that the show was loosely based on the Gaye family and Berry Gordy’s family.

Gaye believes that the handful of industry people whom he shared the idea, passed the idea long to associates of Lee Daniels. Unlike the previous threat of lawsuits against “Empire,” Gaye says Lee Daniels slipped up in 2014 after announcing that he himself wanted to create a “black Dynasty” that was edgy like “The Sopranos.”

DOES MARVIN GAYE III’S LAWSUIT HAVE MERIT?

The highly-anticipated second season of “Empire” airs on September 23rd.