Tiffany Haddish says she deeply regrets starring in an old sketch with Aries Spears that has sparked a wave of criticism after an anonymous woman sued the comedians for exploiting her and her brother in sexually charged video sketches when they were children.

“I know people have a lot of questions.  I understand.  I’m there with you.  Unfortunately, because there is an ongoing court case, there is very little I can say at this time,” he posted on social media.  “But clearly, while this skit was intended to be comedic, it wasn’t funny at all – and I deeply regret agreeing to act in it.  I really look forward to being able to share much more about this situation as soon as possible.”

Haddish and Spears were sued on August 30 by a self-represented Jane Doe.  The complaint alleges that the woman and her younger brother were tricked into participating in the skits as children.  The video featuring the brother, who the complaint says was 7 years old at the time and was filmed in his underwear, was called “Through the Eyes of a Pedophile.”  The clip showed Spears’ character lusting after the boy to the soundtrack of R. Kelly’s “Bump and Grind” and ends with the boy showing interest in the man and the warning “be careful who you leave your kids with.”  Haddish appears as the mom who repeatedly leaves her son alone with Spears for various reasons.  Funny or Die, where the comedians’ video was posted, said it was taken down in 2018 and called it “absolutely disgusting”.

In response to the lawsuit, Haddish’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, called the claims “bogus” and said Doe’s mother had been trying to bring them for years. 

“Every lawyer who initially took her case — and there were several — eventually dropped the case once it became clear that the claims were without merit and Ms. Haddish would not budge,” Brettler said.  “Now, [her] adult daughter representing herself in this trial.  The two of them together will face the consequences of continuing this reckless action.”

The news comes as Haddish, a longtime comic whose career took off with the release of Girls Trip in 2017, continues to be an in-demand star.  She stars in Apple’s The Afterparty, which has been renewed for a second season, and the Adult Swim animated series Tuca & Bertie.  Her next film project is Haunted Mansion for the Disney family.  is expected to promote it at the company’s upcoming D23 fan expo.  Whether and how Haddish’s current and future projects will be affected remains to be seen.